The goal of Aware Mental Health Week is to further increase awareness and understanding of depression, encourage people to reach out for support if and when they need it – and importantly – provide hope.
For this year’s campaign, we are delighted to present ‘Hope In Focus’, a powerful series of portraits by acclaimed photographer Enda Bowe, which aims to highlight the unique, yet universal experience of depression. Each person featured has experienced depression. They are also parents, daughters, friends, husbands, grandparents, siblings and colleagues with multifaceted lives beyond depression. We were honoured to feature some of our wonderful Volunteers, along with some familiar faces in the series.
Hope in Focus will be unveiled at the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts (RHA) on World Mental Health Day, Thursday 10th October, and open to the public until Sunday 13th October.
“I am not “a depressive”. I live life alongside my mental health challenges. My wish is that those who see us, perhaps re-evaluate their perception of what and/or who depression looks like and more importantly, coveys the hope that depression need not be a lifelong sentence.”
As part of Aware Mental Health Week, we will host a free webinar on Wednesday 9th October, ‘Depression: It’s More Than Just Feeling Sad’ where we will explore what depression is, how it can affect us and what we can do to support ourselves and our loved ones. The session will include both clinical expertise and lived experience perspectives.
Keep an eye on our social media channels throughout the week as we will be sharing lots of content to include insights from our portrait subjects and providing helpful information on depression.
Our range of free education programmes will also be open for registration so if you’re interested in learning more about your mental health and how to look after it, we’d encourage you to consider signing up.
And don’t forget we’re here for you if you need support.
Choose from the below options to learn more.
Hope In Focus Portraits
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Want to invest in your mental health?
Whether you are living with depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder, supporting a loved one, or you are simply looking to learn more about your mental health and how to protect it – we have the programme for you. Our Life Skills Group Programme, Living Well With Bipolar Disorder Programme, and Relatives and Friends Programme are open for registration from 16th September.
Do you need support?
Don’t forget that we’re here for you.
If you’re experiencing depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety or other mood related conditions, or are concerned about a loved one, we can offer you a safe and accepting space to receive support, compassion and guidance.
All three of our support services are offered free of charge.
Supporting someone?
If you are looking for information and resources to help you as you support a loved one who experiences depression, we have some helpful actions and options below.
Donate to Aware
It costs Aware circa €2.5m to deliver our range of services each year. We receive limited funding from the State, so rely heavily on the support of the public and our corporate partners in order to raise these funds.
Your donation will help us to improve the lives of individuals, families and communities affected by depression and bipolar disorder. Your generosity means that more free-of-charge support, education and information services can be provided for those who need it most.
“It took me years to admit that I had depression. Once I did, it was like a massive amount of pressure was released. I learned how to cope and enjoy a great life.”