‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’, is the official theme for this year's World Mental Health Day as set by the World Federation for Mental Health.

Mental health is a vital national issue at the best of times, but the need for meaningful support in the community has become even more relevant as we’ve navigated the challenges of the pandemic.

After an extraordinarily challenging 18 months providing many more hours of care for loved ones,  coping with reduced support from health and care services as well as limited help from family and friends, our carers are concerned about the support they will have to help them care in the future.   

Our carers face daily challenges outside the coping skills of most people - an experience that can be very isolating. 

They may have to:

• give up their own careers to take up a caring role with subsequent financial repercussions
• struggle to navigate a complex system
• lose contact with their friends and social networks and other family members
• may become unwell themselves due to the immense pressure of caring

We recognise that unpaid mental health carers are central to the delivery of mental health care. 

Protecting their health, by ensuring access to emotional and practical support, information and training, thereby building resilience within this group, is one of our central priorities thus ensuring that carers own physical, emotional and mental well-being are protected and that no carer feels alone, stigmatised or excluded from help.

As we face the challenges ahead, your support is needed now more than ever. We won’t stop until all mental health carers here in NI have the support they need – and there are a number of ways you could help!

Make a move for mental health carers

this World Mental Health Day - Sunday 10 October 

As CAUSE marks World Mental Health Day on Sunday October 10th, 2021, we are asking schools, businesses, community groups, individual and families to show they care by getting behind us in the months ahead.

Your support will help us support local families and friends impacted by someone living with a serious mental illness.

Here are a few ways for you to make a move to make caring in mental health count!

Donate - every penny makes a real difference

Strictly dance - wear something glitzy – take our Cha Cha Challenge and raise the roof whist raising funds.

Paws for CAUSE – get active with our canine capers and get family or colleagues to sponsor you or join you!                  Walking and exercise has been proven to greatly reduce feelings of anxiety and stress.

Have a caring Cuppacake coffee or tea break, afternoon tea party and ask participants for a donation.

Doing your own thing – of course you can choose to do whatever suits you or your group.

Thank you to everyone who have already been hard at work fundraising and supporting us throughout the year!