Austen Donohoe
Communications & Digital Marketing Manager
With winter at its height, thoughts turn to guarding our health against the elements. Do we take the same care with our mental health?
A reasonable response might be: “What are the signs to watch for when it comes to mental health, and where can I find support?” The answers are central to MyMind’s existence as a charity providing accessible talk therapy for everyday mental health challenges.
Minding the signs
Life happens, bringing with it worries over money, family, work and the innumerable concerns of 21st-century living. Low mood, irritability and lingering tiredness are some of the warning signs to watch out for when it comes to mental health. These are the mental health equivalents of a scratchy throat and sinus pain signalling an oncoming cold.
Low mood, irritability and lingering tiredness are some of the warning
signs to watch out for when it comes to mental health.
Support is here
At MyMind, we believe that common, everyday mental health challenges are fully deserving of professional therapeutic support. Issues like burnout, relationship struggles and bereavement are some examples that, left untreated, can lead to more serious mental health challenges down the line. This is why we advocate for early intervention, knowing that engaging in counselling or psychotherapy early yields results sooner — and with lasting effect.
Making our services accessible is absolutely fundamental to successful early intervention, and we achieve this on several fronts. We provide appointments without waiting lists or the need for referral and aim to always have sessions available to book within 72 hours of registration. Appointments are held face-to-face from 11 locations across Ireland, and online, in over 20 languages.
We are not-for-profit, with a fee structure tied to employment status. This facilitates a low Standard Rate of €60 per session, while funding from the HSE makes it possible to offer €30 appointments to anyone earning less than €25,000 annually, including retirees and full-time third-level students.
MyMind’s message for winter is one of hope. Support is here, it is accessible, and just as we’re wrapping up against the elements, we should also be mindful of our mental health over the darker months.
