TRIBUTE TO MYMY CHARITY SUPPORTERS

A SPECIAL event took place last week, paying tribute to all those who have supported, and continue to support, a local charity which, since 2008, has been working to improve mental health and well-being in our community.

MYMY (Mind Your Mate and Yourself) held its 15th anniversary event on Thursday in its charity shop in Castlewellan. The event was a way of thanking those who have helped, both in the past and the present. MYMY offers free confidential counselling services to individuals aged 16 and over experiencing difficulties with a range of issues such as anxiety, bereavement, low mood, relationship issues, workplace stress, and trauma. It also provides health and wellbeing programmes and workshops to help in the community. During last week’s event, MYMY chairperson, Paul MYMY (Mind Your Mate and Yourself) held its 15th anniversary event on Thursday in its charity shop in Castlewellan. The event was a way of thanking those who have helped, both in the past and the present.

MYMY offers free confidential counselling services to individuals aged 16 and over experiencing difficulties with a range of issues such as anxiety, bereavement, low mood, relationship issues, workplace stress, and trauma. It also provides health and wellbeing programmes and workshops to help in the community. During last week’s event, MYMY chairperson, Paul Walsh, paid tribute to the three founding families – the Cunninghams, the Kings and the Fitzpatricks – who had the vision to develop a community-based mental health and wellbeing charity for Newcastle and Castlewellan. Reflecting on how far the charity had grown since 2008, he said this was thanks to the generosity of the local community.

Paul explained that the donations made and the fundraising carried out by so many people “is spent completely on providing care and support to those who need it when they need it”. He also emphasised that “there has never been a greater need” for the various services offered by the charity. “The effects of the trauma in Northern Ireland, the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and the long waiting lists in the health service means that there has never been a greater demand for MYMY’s services. “Through the hard work and donations of the community we are really privileged to have the services of MYMY available for those who need them, when they need them,” he added.

MYMY CEO Deborah Boden thanked both past and current management committees, staff and volunteer teams who, she added, hav “worked tirelessly over the past 15 years to help those experiencing mental ill-health.” She said that “it is thanks to them” that the local community has quick access to a team of BACP (British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists) accredited counsellors as well as free health and wellbeing workshops “that help people help themselves”.

Mrs Boden added that the creation of the Project 61 charity shop has “further enhanced opportunities for local people to volunteer, make connections and build friendships while at the same time generating some funds for MYMY to help others in our community.” During the celebration, the guests were then treated to a selection of Christmas carols performed by the Mind Your Mate Choir, conducted by Mona Owens.

he choir was formed to combat isolation and loneliness in the area and rounded off what was subsequently described as “a fantastic night for the charity”. If you would like to know more about MYMY, you can call the charity’s headquarters in Newcastle on (028) 4372 7549, send an email to hello@mymy.org.uk or use the self-referral option, which can be found on the mymy.org.uk website.