Mindspace Mayo and Mental Health Ireland are delighted to announce the next stage of their partnership, which sees Mindspace Mayo become a fully governed Mental Health Ireland early intervention youth mental health service.
The development builds on the strong work being delivered by Mindspace Mayo and creates new opportunities to strengthen and sustain that work into the future.
As an early intervention youth mental health service, Mindspace Mayo plays a critical role in supporting young people therapeutically across the county, providing accessible, community-based support and creating welcoming spaces where young people can seek information, talk openly and get help when they need it.
Read more about Mindspace Mayo here: https://www.mindspacemayo.ie/
As a therapeutic service, Mindspace staff are there to listen without judgement and provide supportive guidance. Alongside the Castlebar hub, Mindspace also has outreach centres in Erris and Ballina, helping to make support accessible to young people across Mayo. Mindspace Mayo supports young people between the age of 12-25 who are:
• Feeling down, stressed or unable to stop worrying
• Not feeling like themselves anymore
• Finding school, college or work difficult, or struggling to concentrate
• Feeling sick or worried about their health
• Looking for information about alcohol or other drug use, or wanting to cut down
• Looking for someone to talk to about sexuality, gender identity or relationships
• Having difficulties with family or friends
• Experiencing sexual health issues
• Being bullied, hurt or harassed
• Worried about work, study or money
• Simply needing someone to talk to
The move to full governance through Mental Health Ireland will provide Mindspace Mayo with additional organisational support, leadership and governance, while building on the strong local relationships and community focus that have been central to its success.
The decision follows discussions involving representatives of Mental Health Ireland, the HSE and Mindspace Mayo trustees, the youth panel and community steering group, who agreed that full governance through Mental Health Ireland offered a strong foundation for the future.
Peadar Gardiner, Project Manager, Mindspace Mayo, “Mindspace Mayo and Mental Health Ireland have worked closely together for many years, and this development is about strengthening that relationship and creating a sustainable foundation for the future of Mindspace. Our commitment to young people remains at the centre of everything we do. We will continue to work closely with our local steering group, youth panel, staff, statutory and community partners to ensure that the voices and experiences of young people continue to shape the future of Mindspace Mayo and the services we provide across the county.”
Dr Lisa Cuthbert, CEO of Mental Health Ireland said, “Mindspace has built something incredibly valuable in Mayo. It’s welcoming, community-based approach means young people know there is somewhere they can go, whether they are facing a major challenge or simply need somebody to talk to. We are delighted to be working with Mindspace to build on that foundation. Mental Health Ireland can provide additional organisational support and governance, while Mindspace’s local knowledge, relationships and understanding of the community will remain central to the work. This is a positive outcome for Mindspace Mayo and for the young people and communities it serves.”
A key priority of the partnership will be ensuring that young people continue to have a meaningful voice in the future development of Mindspace Mayo. Mental Health Ireland will work with the Mindspace local committee and youth panel to ensure that young people’s experiences and perspectives continue to be at the heart of the therapeutic work offered by Mindspace.
