Shine online “Taking Stock” and “Resilience” Workshops

This Wednesday, 14th October, our Information and Support Officers in the Midlands, Sarah and Jason are running two online workshops as part of our World Mental Health Week celebrations.

11am – 11.35am  ZOOM Workshop – Taking Stock 

This workshop allows participants to Take Stock of where they are at.  It can be tough with life changes and everyday busyness to remember what is really important for us and this workshop will allow participants to do just that, to consider their values, strengths and resources.  An understanding of the skills and knowledge already present can develop resilience to make it through tough times.  

2pm – 2.35pm  ZOOM Workshop – Resilience 

This workshop will discuss the characteristics of resilience, and how these can be practised and strengthened.  Resilience enables people to adapt to change, change is inevitable in life and all change whether it is positive or negative allows the opportunity to engage proactively with it. So following on from resilience there will be a discussion on how we can manage change and plan for the future.

Both workshops will be facilitated by Sarah Cox and Jason Dowling, Information and Support Officers from Shine.  All are welcome and it is free of charge.

Please book your place by email: scox@shine.ie 

Phone: Sarah 086 0451876 or  Jason 086 8525281 for further details. 

World Mental Health Day 2020 – Mental Health For All

Today is World Mental Health Day 2020 and the theme of this year’s #WMHD is Mental Health For All – Greater Investment – Greater Access. Everyone, everywhere.


This year World Mental Health Day comes at a time where increased levels of anxiety, fear, isolation, social distancing and restrictions, uncertainty and emotional distress have become widespread as we all struggle to cope with the Covid 19 pandemic.


For people with mental health conditions, many are experiencing even greater social isolation than before with the closure or suspension of services, reduced access to peer support and normal support outlets.
Now, more than ever, investment in mental health care is of utmost importance. This year, Shine is calling on the Government to prioritise funding and investment in our community and voluntary mental health services who are under even more pressure than before to meet demand and continue to provide an essential role in the delivery of mental health support services.

Shine calls on the Government to make investment in community based mental health services a priority in Budget21

Shine calls on the Government to make investment in community based mental health services a priority in Budget21 in line with Sharing the Vision national mental health policy.

We are asking the Government to prioritise these 4 key areas:

  1. Call for investment in / funding for the Community and Voluntary sector providing mental health services
  • The Community and Voluntary sector plays an essential role in the delivery of mental health support services in the community, tailoring mental health recovery programmes to the needs, preferences and circumstances of the individual and the community which it serves.
  • Covid-19 has seen a huge increase in the demand for mental health support services over the past number of months. Community and voluntary mental health services are under even more pressure than before to meet demand.
  • To meet the targets outlined in the new national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, and to deal with increased demand, the Community and Voluntary sector needs to be sufficiently funded to ensure the continuation and expansion of essential mental health recovery and support services.

2. Call for funding to allow families, carers and supporters timely access to recovery supports

  • In line with Sharing the Vision, it is essential that mental health services are inclusive of family members and that the recovery support needs of families are a priority.
  • We call on the Government to ensure appropriate investment in inclusiveness of family members in mental health service provision and family recovery orientated services

3. Call for investment in peer-led initiatives

  • Peer-led and peer-run projects in the community are important ways to promote the social inclusion of people with a mental health difficulty. They are key to enhancing positive mental health by generating social capital and promoting an individual’s social inclusion and mental health recovery.
  • Peer-led initiatives need access to reliable funding streams.

4. Call for investment in intensive recovery focused support services for people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties

  • In line with the commitment in Sharing the Vision, we are calling on the Government to prioritise funding for intensive recovery focused support services for people with complex, severe and enduring mental health difficulties.
  • Sufficient investment in Assertive Outreach Teams and community based supports can reduce hospital admissions and readmissions, prevent relapse, and improve a person’s chances of returning to employment, education or training, and, more generally, to enhance their quality of life.