Since we founded A Lust for Life, we’ve noticed there’s lots of common ground among the huge numbers of people who write for us about their personal journeys. One major common ground is their need to break a silence. And how profoundly healing it is when they do.
We are huge believers in the power of conversation. About having the chats with your friend, your family member or about reaching out yourself. There’s huge power in opening up to the right person, saying “hey, I don’t feel ok right now” – and for them to listen, to accept, and to offer to help.
For too long in Ireland, we have silenced people who are struggling. We brushed too much under the carpet. And a big part of our mission at A Lust for Life is to end that era. Because we know that we – and you – don’t want to live in that Ireland anymore.
The level of empathy people have around mental health in this country now is absolutely overwhelming. Its feckin’ fantastic to see. But the shadow of stigma still persists, and each of us has a role to play in ending that.
The one thing that anyone can do to help change things is to have a conversation with someone you know and love about mental health. It can be about theirs. It can be about yours. Or it can be about mental health in general.
Be that person who shares articles and thoughts about mental health online. Open that conversation up among your peers. You never know how many people may read what you have written or shared. You never know, someone may find huge comfort in it. It may even empower someone to seek help.
We believe we can create a new Ireland – an Ireland full of empathy, an Ireland that catches people when they fall. But we all need to play a part in sending out a strong message – that together, we are not going to let people feel silenced or ashamed anymore.
We’re asking all of our readers, supporters and allies to join us in our movement to break this silence and once and for all, end the stigma around mental health. Talk to people. Tell your story, listen to others, share A Lust for Life’s work, and make some noise about mental health.
Join our movement today.
Support Our Campaign
We rely on the generosity of the public to fund our work and so far together we have achieved great things! Please do continue to support us so we can provide future generations in Ireland with the resources to recognise and talk about their emotions, and equip them to navigate the ever-changing world around them as they grow
