Events around the country 2024
Mental Health Month 2024
For Mental Health Month 2024, our theme was Connect. Throughout the month, we explored different ways to build and strengthen meaningful connections with each week focusing on a different pillar: Yourself, Others, Community and Nature.
Connect with Yourself
This week emphasises self-awareness and personal growth. We will share ideas that help you build self-compassion and confidence
Connect with Others
This week offers tips on supporting loved ones, highlighting the importance of relationships.
Connect with Community
We will explore ideas for creating support networks to improve your mental wellbeing.
Connect with Nature
We will share ways to connect with the outdoors and discover the mental health benefits of spending time in nature.
Mental Health Month Survey
A new national survey has revealed that only 10% of people living in Ireland will do something every day to look after their mental health. Mental Health Ireland released the survey as part of Mental Health Month 2024 that celebrates the theme of Connection and provides tools, resources and activities around the country throughout October to improve mental health and wellbeing.
The survey shows that while most of us (89%) do something to intentionally support our mental health each week, only 10% doing something every single day. The survey showed that the biggest barriers to people supporting their mental health daily are time (32%) and money (31%), although 15% respondents said they don’t know how to support their mental health, and for 13% of respondents it’s not seen as something people in their social circle do. Across the population, spending time with friends and family (71%), exercising (70%) and spending time in nature (53%) are the most common ways people are supporting their mental health. Other ways we look after our mental health include having a hobby (51%), practicing mindfulness/meditation (26%) and going to counselling or therapy (16%).
When it comes to education around mental health, across every age group there is a clear desire to learn more about how to manage stress and anxiety. Women over 55 overwhelmingly (78%) want more support in managing stress and/or anxiety. Both 25-34 year old men and women want to understand more about mental health and want to know more about managing stress & anxiety (77%), managing mental health at work (57%), supporting someone with a mental health need (53%) and understanding mental health (52%).
