“One Small Step…” Here’s Why You Should Take Part in the #WalkInMyShoes Campaign

Funk up your footwear this Friday for a fantastic cause.

‘Walk in My Shoes’ is St. Patrick’s Mental Health Foundation’s leading awareness and fundraising campaign. Now in its 3^rd year, ‘Walk in My Shoes’ raises funds to provide vulnerable young adults in Ireland with mental health support, information and services.

‘Walk in My Shoes’ was established after a 16-year-old service user in St. Patrick’s University Hospital said he wished his friends could put themselves in his shoes to understand what he was going through.

St. Patrick’s Mental Health Foundation fundraises on behalf of St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services. St. Patrick’s University Hospital was founded over 260 years ago by Jonathan Swift, and is today, Ireland’s largest independent, not-for-profit, mental health service provider. We aspire to provide the highest quality of mental health care, to promote mental health and to advocate for the rights of those who experience mental health difficulties

Some of the statistics are quite sobering…

·         1 in 4 young people suffer from a mental illness. (World Health Organisation)

·         75% of all mental health difficulties begin before 24 years of age.

·         Suicide is the number one cause of death among 18-25 year old men in Ireland.

·         Ireland has one of the highest suicide rates in the 14-24 age group in the EU.

·         Getting help and getting help early is crucial to recovery. 

You can help, by wearing Funky Shoes on Friday May 9^th. Step out of your comfort zone and stand up for Mental Health!

Just TEXT ‘ Shoes’ to57802 to donate €2, or make a donation of your choice at www.walkinmyshoes.ie. Don’t forget to photograph your shoes and share online using the #walkinmyshoes hashtag.

For further information on ‘Walk in My Shoes’ go to www.walkinmyshoes.ie