CHOCK BLOCK

World Health Day on the 7th April this year has the theme of Depression. One in four people are affected by depression in their lifetime, and studies have shown that anyone can be affected.

Many studies have shown that what you eat is linked to your mental health. Food plays such an important role in the prevention of many specific mental health problems such as depression.

This lent, for 40 days, I am giving up chocolate. For those of you who know me, I LOVE chocolate! There are three charities/campaigns I am raising money for, who work with people who are in need of mental health and addiction support. They are:

1) Mind Your Mood - are a mental health campaign at Queen's University Belfast, who provide workshops and other fun activities to promote good mental health amongst students, and aim to reduce the stigma on talking about mental health. Moving away from home can be a difficult time for students, and it is important that students don't feel alone. Looking after your mental health is one of the most important things you can do whilst at University. Mind Your Mood offer 3-hour workshops, and are entirely free for students and delivered by trained professionals. https://www.facebook.com/mindyourmood/?fref=ts

2) Jigsaw Galway - a free and confidential service supporting the mental health and well-being of people aged 15 – 25. Jigsaw’s aim is to support young people who are struggling, to ensure they get the support they need, when and where they need it. Jigsaw Galway is part of a national network of Jigsaw Services supported by Jigsaw the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, all aiming to provide tailored community-based help for young people’s mental health needs. http://www.jigsaw.ie/jigsaw_galway/

3) Welcome Organisation - Homelessness is about more than having a roof over your head. A home is not just a physical space, it provides a sense of belonging , roots, identity and a place of emotional wellbeing. Homelessness is about the loss of all of these. For many it is a damaging and isolating experience. People become and stay homeless for a whole range of complex and coinciding reasons. Tackling homelessness is about much more than putting a roof over people's heads. Many homeless people face a number of issues in addition to, but often compounded by, their homelessness. Isolation compounded with the destructive nature of homelessness means that homeless people find it difficult to access the help they need. The Welcome Organisation adopts a non-judgemental approach to addressing homelessness issues. All of our services are based on the principles of harm reduction delivered through low-threshold services. We are recognised for accepting people ‘where they are at’ as opposed to where others think they should be. http://www.homelessbelfast.org/