Aware has launched its Aware Mental Health Week 2024 campaign, taking place from Monday, October 7 to Sunday, October 13 and encompassing World Mental Health Day on Thursday.
This year’s campaign will highlight the unique, yet universal experience of depression through a powerful new portrait series ‘Hope In Focus’ by acclaimed photographer Enda Bowe which will be unveiled at the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts (RHA) on World Mental Health Day.
Each person in the portrait series has experience of depression, with the 14 photographs featuring a diverse group of individuals to include familiar faces such as Mary Black, Brent Pope, Maclean Burke, Hugh Wallace, Emer O’Neill and David Gillick. The exhibition will be open to the public from October 10 – 13.
Dr Susan Brannick, Clinical Director at Aware commented, “Depression is a widespread and often misunderstood condition that can affect people from all walks of life. It is important that we take all experiences of depression seriously and respond with compassion.”
“Our aim with Aware Mental Health Week and the ‘Hope In Focus’ series is to foster a greater understanding and empathy towards those experiencing depression. There is hope, and a range of supports to enable people in their recovery journey.”
With 1 in 5 adults in Ireland stating an official diagnosis of depression and more than half (53 per cent) reporting what they believe was an experience of depression over their lifetime, the weeklong awareness campaign will aim to further increase understanding of the condition
Aware hopes to educate people on how to proactively look after their mental health and empower people to reach out for support when they need it.
Dr Brannick added, “The experience of depression can lead to isolation and can evoke shame and guilt. Research shows that the tendency towards feeling shame and guilt is linked with higher levels of depression for many. And both can be exacerbated by stigma.”
“Although we have made good progress in recent decades in how we talk about mental health and challenge the stigma that surrounds depression, we still have work to do.”
“We are very grateful to all who have participated in our campaign which we hope will help shine a light on both the shared and the unique aspects of the experience of depression and how we can talk to each other about what is a common yet often misunderstood human experience.”
As part of the weeklong activities, Aware will also host a free webinar ‘Depression & Me’ on Wednesday 9th October and its wide range of free positive mental health programmes are all open for registration via www.aware.ie.
Aware Mental Health Week Webinar – ‘Depression & Me’: Taking place on Wednesday. October 9 from 12-1pm, this webinar will explore the topic of depression, offering personal perspectives and clinical insights.
There will be opportunity to submit questions for the panel during the webinars. All webinars are free to attend but require advance registration at www.aware.ie/webinars.
