Welcome to MindWise

World Mental Health Day Read More Donate

Today is World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day is a day in which people across the world join together to share their experiences, fight stigma and advocate for change.

The theme of this year’s event is suicide and suicide prevention.

Every year, close to 800,000 people globally take their own life and there are many more people who attempt suicide. Northern Ireland has the highest suicide rate in the UK, and is the only part of the UK in which the suicide rate is increasing.

The Protect 2 Life strategy, recently published by the Department of Health, has set out what the Department will do to reduce suicide and self-harm over the next five years and looks at the importance of everyone, including MindWise, working together on prevention.

Suicide Myths

Do only people who have a mental illness think about suicide? Should you take it seriously when someone says they wishes they weren't here anymore?

Myths and misinformation around suicide are still common, and can stop people reaching out for support, and recognising when someone needs help.

On #WorldMentalHealthDay, share our 1 minute video which busts 3 of the biggest myths about suicide. You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Take Action

1. Ask what your local councillors and MLAs are doing to protect and promote mental health in your community.

You can contact your councillors and MLAs through email and post. All contact details for MLAs can be found on the Northern Ireland Assembly website, and your local councillor can be contacted through your council website.

2. Get involved

Last year, MindWise worked alongside more than 10,000 people in their mental health journey.

By volunteering with MindWise, you will play an active and essential role in supporting people in their recovery from mental ill health. Our volunteers support our clients in learning new skills, fostering self expression and self esteem, and in having fun! Find out more about volunteering with MindWise.

Our fundraisers have skydived, baked and walked the length of Ireland to spread the mental health message and help us to reach more people who need our support. Read more about fundraising for MindWise. You can also donate to MindWise - your donations enable our local services to keep delivering the recovery based programmes that help transform peoples' lives.

Is your workplace supportive of mental wellbeing? Our WorkWise programme provides training for employers for positive mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. Find out more.

3. Share your story

Your own experiences are valuable, valid and powerful. By sharing your story, you can help challenge stigma, give hope to others and empower you. Time to Change, the national anti-stigma campaign by Mind and Rethink, feature real life stories, and you can submit your own.

Get Support

Debt and money worries

More than 50% of people living with mental illness are also in debt. We know that debt and money issues are one of the main factors that can worsen mental health, and that our mental health can have a huge impact on how we manage our money.

If you or someone you care about is experiencing problems with their mental health and money, including benefits and debt, you can contact our Mental Health and Money Advice Service on 02895 904625 and speak to our trained advisors. We also have a website which has lots of useful information and guides. Visit http://www.mhma.org.uk

Support in a crisis

If you need to speak to someone right now, here are some confidential options which provide 24/7 support. If you're worried you might hurt yourself or someone else, please call 999, or go to your nearest A and E.

Lifeline

For people who are experiencing distress or despair. 0808 808 8000

Childline

Helps anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night. 0800 1111

Samaritans

24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You don't have to be suicidal to call the Samaritans. 116 123

Online support

An online community is a group of people with common interests or experiences who use the internet to communicate together. Many different online communities exist, including mental health specific forums and communities like:

Mental health communities often have higher levels of moderation than general social media sites, which also might make you feel safer.

In Downpatrick yesterday, we had a group discussion about the "5 Steps To Mental Wellbeing" which was very well received and contributed to. We followed that by a coffee morning for all of our service users. Rosie, one of our volunteers made homemade flapjacks and apple and cinnamon cake.

Thanks to JP Corry, we'll be at their Carrick store today, and Islandbawn Stores Antrim for hosting a collection. We'll also be delivering a talk about mental health and suicide to students at Ulidia College in Carrickfergus. Our Mental Health and Money Advice Service will be presenting their Impact Report at Stormont.

We'll be out and about all day - please do come say hello!

2018-19 Annual Review Read More Donate

Every year, MindWise produces an annual review. It tells you about our key achievements that year, more about our clients and our services, as well as setting out financial information. This year, our annual review has a new look!

Click on the links below to download or view a PDF version of our latest annual review.

Flip book version

Download a PDF version of our annual review by clicking here.

If you'd like a hard copy, please get in touch.

MindWise Annual Accounts 2018-19

Download our annual accounts here.

MindWise AGM and 10th Birthday Celebrations Read More Donate

Download last year's minutes | Download agenda for the day

As an invaluable contributor to the work we do, and to show our thanks, we would like to invite you to celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary and participate in our Annual General Meeting on 19th September 2019.

It’s hard to believe that MindWise is now 10! Since 2009, we have extended our reach from supporting approximately 1,000 people affected by severe mental illness and mental health needs to over 10,000 per annum. We could not have achieved this successfully without your passion and commitment in supporting our vision.

During our celebrations, we will take you on a journey; from where we started in 2009 to where we are now, while also providing a flavour of where we want to go in the future – your views on this, as always, will be fully appreciated. We will hear from our clients, volunteers, staff, members and our Board of Trustees, giving due consideration to how we have successfully grown as an organisation committed to putting our clients at the centre of everything we do.

We will celebrate and give recognition via our Patsy England, Tom Beare and Supporter Awards to those who have contributed to the work we do, because we know we can’t do it alone.

Our celebrations will commence at 12.15pm on 19/9/19, in Crowne Plaza Hotel, 117 Milltown Road, Belfast BT8 7XP with registration and light lunch. We hope you can join us then.

Please advise if you will be attending by RSVPing below.

Click here to RSVP

You can also call us on 028 90402323 or email info@mindwisenv.org on or before 10th September 2019.

Copies of our Annual Report and a special Northern Ireland Appropriate Adult Scheme 10 Year Report will be available on the day, however if you are unable to attend and would like copies please contact us.

I look forward to seeing you then.

Yours sincerely,

Tom Haire,

Chair, MindWise

Volunteer for MindWiseRead More Donate

MindWise is a leading mental health charity which supports those affected by severe mental illness and other mental health difficulties and promotes earlier intervention. To help make this a success we are looking for individuals to spare a few hours a week to volunteer. We currently have volunteer opportunities in the following roles:

Experienced Fundraising and Event Volunteers – to help with a range of fundraising events (e.g. bag packs, street collections, marathons etc)
Volunteer Facilitators – Carer and Family Support Service – based in Antrim, Ballymena or Coleraine
Research and Information Volunteer – Carer and Family Support Service
Walking Group Leader – Thursday morning, Belfast Resource Centre
Chess Volunteer – Belfast Resource Centre
Music / Mindfulness Volunteer – Belfast Resource Centre
Woodwork Volunteer – Magherafelt
Volunteer to teach Guitar - Magherafelt
Gardening Volunteer - Carrickfergus
Activities/Walking Group Volunteers –Newry, Antrim, Banbridge, Lurgan
Arts and Crafts Volunteers – Newry, Lurgan

If you are interested in applying for any of these roles please contact the volunteer co-ordinator on 028 9031 5060 or email niamh.scullion@mindwisenv.org for an application pack and role description.

What's it like volunteering for MindWise?

Hear from our volunteers themselves on what being a MindWise volunteer is like.

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Service user satisfaction survey 2018-19 Read More Donate

A huge THANK YOU to the 220 MindWise clients who responded to our Service User surve and told us what you think. Here are some of the key stats...

Read the full report.

MindWise