Newry mental health support survey highlights benefits of peer support

These findings reveal the effectiveness of the charity’s peer-led mental health support groups, including the Newry Support Group.

Time to Talk Day encourages people to break the stigma around mental health, but it can still be difficult for many to open up. AWARE NI offers 24 peer-led mental health support groups across Northern Ireland, including in Newry, which provide a safe space for people to share experiences, reduce feelings of isolation, and find hope on their journey to better mental health.

Caroline McLoughlin, Support Services Manager at AWARE NI, shares: “One in five adults in Northern Ireland experience mental ill-health. Our peer-led groups, like the one in Newry, provide a welcoming and judgment-free environment where people can talk about their mental health challenges and learn positive coping strategies.”

To mark Time to Talk Day, AWARE NI has published its second biennial Support Group Attendee Report, showing that 98% of participants felt their mental health support group helped them manage anxiety, 96% felt supported in managing depression, and 95% felt less isolated after attending.

Testimonial feedback from the survey shared the individual transformative impact with one respondent saying, “Attending the group has really helped me feel more accepted by other people and helped motivate me to try and do better at working toward making my life more like how I want it to be.”

"We were delighted to see our latest report showcased that 97% of attendees would recommend an AWARE NI mental health support group to others," continues Caroline. "AWARE NI's Newry Support Group provides a lifeline to people who may feel isolated and overwhelmed by their mental health struggles. Our support groups are free to attend, have no waiting list, and are open to anyone 18 and over. We would encourage anyone feeling alone and struggling with their thoughts and feelings to come to one of our support groups. It could change your life."

The Newry Support Group meets weekly on Wednesday at Altnaveigh House at 7:30pm, providing vital support for individuals living with mental ill-health.

For more information on our mental health support groups, or to get involved with our fundraising efforts to help us continue providing vital mental health support to Newry and beyond, please visit: aware-ni.org