Join Us for a Night under the Stars to Support Mental Health
On Friday, June 20th, 2025, people across Northern Ireland and beyond will come together to “Camp Out for Someone”, a unique fundraising event in support of Action Mental Health. Whether it’s wild camping in the great outdoors or setting up a tent in the back garden, participants will take part in an unforgettable night under the stars, embracing the power of nature and community.
Timed to coincide with the Summer Solstice on Saturday, June 21st, this event is designed to bring people together, encouraging them to wake up with the sunrise and make the most of the longest day of the year. Through participation, fundraising, and social media engagement, supporters will help raise awareness and vital funds for mental health services across Northern Ireland.
Oggie is back with his next epic challenge, set to hit 800 official marathons within 800 weeks and donate £800 to help vital mental health services in Northern Ireland. All of this just days after he celebrates his 68th birthday on 1 May 2025, when he runs this year’s Moy Park Belfast City Marathon for Action Mental Health again.
From competing in the Belfast City Marathon last year where he achieved his 250th sub 4hr marathon for Action Mental Health out of his total at the time, which then stood at 740 official marathons, he has since added another 60 official marathons to this total. This will amount to 800 on the day of the Belfast City Marathon on Sunday 4 May 2025.
As well as being such a long-time supporter of Action Mental Health, Oggie has also ran a lot of marathons for other charities, including:
World Cancer Research, Action Cancer, Age Concern, Air Ambulance, Southern Area Hospice, McMillan Cancer Support, Foyle Hospice, PIPS, Marie Curie Cancer Care, The Donkey Sanctuary, Simon Community, Aware, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Northern Ireland Hospice, The Rainbow Project and Pretty in Pink.
This year, just one week before Belfast City Marathon, Oggie has also ran the London Marathon on 27 April. He revealed,
“I feel quite blessed and lucky that I am fit enough to always qualify for the bigger major marathons” explaining that he does not have a coach or a personal trainer, preferring to conduct the hard training work under his own steam in all weather conditions.
With a strict and demanding training regime, Oggie looks to future potential achievements with a measured approach saying,
“I take each day at a time and while I train on a daily basis and keep myself at optimum fitness, I’m realistic about my goals and how I may achieve them. I ran my first marathon on my 55th Birthday, which was at the Belfast City Marathon in 2012 and I had no prior sporting history before this time, not even in my school days. I know how important exercise in general is for mental health; it’s great for mind, body and soul. Aside of my accomplishments, if I can encourage others to make sport a part of their lives, even in a small way, I will have achieved my greatest goal of all.
Adding, “We all need encouragement, it’s just that important; runners share and help one another, and I’m often asked how I do it. To this day other runners and bystanders all give me the inspiration to keep going.”
Jonathan Smyth, Head of Communications & Fundraising, Action Mental Health said: “As a loyal supporter of Action Mental Health, Oggie reached out once again to let us know about his new personal challenge and we are absolutely thrilled to have his support and generosity once again. Oggie has pledged to donate £800 to support our vital mental health services, when he completes his challenge. We know that running, and indeed all physical activity is a great way of supporting your mental health, so we are particularly delighted to be the beneficiary of this amazing challenge and we wish Oggie well.”
In conclusion, Oggie said,
“I hope that my efforts will inspire other people to become active. I firmly believe exercising and keeping active can help not just our physical health but our mental health too. This is why I thought what better way to celebrate than to donate money from the Moy Park Belfast City Marathon to Action Mental Health, to help support the important work they do across Northern Ireland.”
If you feel inspired by Oggie’s story, run today for someone’s brighter tomorrow. Join #TeamActionMentalHealth and raise vital funds for mental health services in Northern Ireland. For more information, email [email protected].
This May, let’s take action for mental health – one step at a time!
Join Action Mental Health in our Step Up for Mental Health campaign by committing to 10,000 steps a day throughout #NationalWalkingMonth in May. It’s a simple, yet powerful way to prioritize your mental and physical wellbeing, all while raising vital funds for mental health services.
Get involved and start walking, raising awareness, and making a difference in the lives of those affected by mental ill-health.
Sign up now, to get your special challenge t-shirt by clicking here and together, we can Step Up for Mental Health!
Craigavon Travellers Support Committee enjoy ‘thought-provoking’ BodyTalk session from Action Mental Health
Action Mental Health project worker, Deborah McCready (L), who helps to deliver the charity’s eating disorders support, pictured with Shauna Duggan (R) from the SHSCT’s Eating Disorders Team.
Young people from Craigavon Travellers Support Committeehave taken part in an interactive workshopfrom Action Mental Health aimed at raising awareness and understanding of eating disorders.
The BodyTalk session was delivered as part of the charity’s ongoing work within this area and to link in with Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 24 – March 2). The girls who participated in the event – aged between 11 and 17 years old – subsequently discussed the body image concerns they faced in today’s society, along with the various pressures experienced by young people generally online.
Leeann Stewart, Youth worker with Craigavon Travellers Support Committee, said: “We had the privilege of welcoming Action Mental Health to deliver a beautiful and thought-provoking session on body talk. The session was empowering, sparking open conversations about how we see ourselves – and the pressures placed upon us. We are so proud of the young women in this group for their courage and willingness to challenge unrealistic beauty standards. Let’s continue lifting each other up and embracing who we are, exactly as we are!”
In 2019, The Mental Health Foundation and YouGov (2019) found that 37% of teenagers felt upset about their body image, while 31% also felt ashamed. Meanwhile, 40% of teenagers said images on social media caused them to worry about their body image.
“Research like this highlights the need for intervention and prevention at an early age,” said Deborah McCready, project worker with Action Mental Health’s eating disorders support team.
“The session with Craigavon Travellers Support Committee went really well. We made it very interactive and the young girls talked about issues which directly impacted them, like social media and some of the pressures that young people are facing today. We had open conversations about the way we can negatively talk to ourselves and how we’re often not aware of the impact that has on our self-esteem. That was a really practical thing the girls could take away – just being aware of how they speak to themselves and to practice more self-compassion.”
Are you an employer who wants to make a lasting impact on mental health? Here are five expert-backed tips from Action Mental Health’s Workplace Wellbeing specialists to help cultivate positive change in your workplace.
1. Focus on Prevention, Not Just Reaction
Prevention is key when it comes to workplace mental health. Research shows that early intervention can significantly reduce the risk of long-term mental health conditions. In Northern Ireland, around one in five [1] adults experience a mental health issue at any given time, yet many do not seek support early enough.
Embedding mental health training, workshops, and awareness initiatives can equip staff with the tools they need to manage their own wellbeing. Proactive support can lead to lower absenteeism, reduced presenteeism, and improved overall staff morale.
2. Invest in Management Training
Managers are often the first point of contact for employees experiencing mental health challenges. However, a recent UK survey found that only 24% of managers feel confident supporting a team member experiencing poor mental health [2]. Without the right training, managers may struggle to have compassionate conversations or provide appropriate signposting.
Providing managers with mental health training empowers them to support their teams effectively, fostering a more open and understanding workplace culture.
3. Provide Accessible Support
Workplace mental health support should be easy to access and clearly communicated. Whether you implement Mental Health First Aiders, Wellbeing Champions, or an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), it’s vital that staff know where to turn when they need help.
A UK study found that for every £1 invested in workplace mental health interventions, businesses see an average return of £5 due to reduced absenteeism and increased productivity [3]. Investing in accessible mental health support is not just beneficial for employees but also makes good business sense.
4. Adopt a Whole-Organisation Approach
Creating meaningful change requires more than one-off initiatives. To truly embed mental health as a priority, businesses should take a whole-organisation approach. This means ensuring that workplace policies, procedures, and leadership strategies reflect a commitment to employee wellbeing.
In Northern Ireland, mental health-related sickness absence costs employers hundreds of millions of pounds [1] each year. Companies that embed wellbeing into their culture experience higher retention rates and improved workplace satisfaction.
5. Don’t Do It Alone!
Supporting mental health in the workplace can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Action Mental Health, we specialise in equipping employers with the tools and expertise needed to support employee wellbeing.
Whether you’re looking for early intervention training, consultancy on mental health policies, or a comprehensive strategy to embed wellbeing into your organisation, our Workplace Wellbeing team is here to help.
Let’s work together to create healthier, more resilient workplaces across Northern Ireland!
References:
Mental Health Foundation (2023). “Mental Health Statistics – Northern Ireland.” Available at: [https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk]
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) (2023). “Health and Wellbeing at Work Report.” Available at: [https://www.cipd.co.uk]
Deloitte (2022). “Mental Health and Employers: The Case for Investment.” Available at: [https://www2.deloitte.com]
We all enjoy a good joke and can attest to feeling better after a bout of laughing with friends or family, so it’s good to know that the science agrees. Indeed, from research carried out to date on laughter, it appears that sharing a giggle with people can do wonders for our mental health and helps us feel safer and more connected. Plus, it’s fun, so what’s not to like?
According to psychologist, Dr Robert Provine – the world’s leading scientific expert on laughter – the positive emotions we share when we laugh with people is critically important for social cohesion. Basically, when we laugh with those around us, we bond with them and make connections, which reduce feelings of isolation and help boost our mental wellbeing. In short, we form a community and/or a network in which we feel safe and at ease.
Describing laughter as “a social vocalization that binds people together,” [1] interestingly, Dr Provine found that the key stimulus for laughter was usually another person. I.e. we spontaneously laugh more in relation to the person, than what it is they’re actually saying. Laughter is also much more common in social situations than in solitary ones, so we tend to laugh more often when we’re with others than when we’re alone.
Physiological benefits of laughter
Further research shows that, while it “is commonly accepted that laughter produces psychological benefits, such as improving affect, depression, anxiety, and stress,” [2] there are also physiological benefits to laughing.
Indeed, recent studies have indicated that laughter can improve heart health, with the effects of a good chuckle expanding our arteries and increasing the flow of oxygen around the body. [3]. Other physiological benefits of laughter include stimulating the muscles and lungs as well as triggering the release of feel-good endorphins from our brain.
Long-term, laughter can also improve our immune system: “Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. By contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.” [4]. It can even help to relieve pain, as laughter can assist the body in producing natural painkillers.
Reducing social isolation
Counselling Coordinator – Casual Team at Action Mental Health, Lauren Darragh, said laughter was a great way of connecting people and reducing isolation – which is a key part of the work carried out by her team.
“Studies have shown that laughing also reduces a lot of stress hormones,” she said. “It can impact the dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain. Low levels of these are often associated with depression and low mood, so boosting these through laughter can have a positive effect on our mood.”
She added that laughter could also help to increase people’s resilience and tenacity. Indeed, by reducing stress and boosting the immune system, laughter allows us to refocus – all of which, with our enhanced mood, ultimately builds a more resilient character.
“I think life is about fun as well as overcoming the hardships,” said Lauren. “It’s about laughter and lightness and joy. As a therapist, you hold that hope that there are the positives. With laughter, the huge thing for me is the bond that you find with other people through laughing together. It can show that the person is safe and it encourages connection and communication and reduces isolation.
Lauren Darragh from Action Mental Health.
“At Action Mental Health the majority of our work is based on removing isolation. It’s about encouraging connectedness and counselling is part of that.”
With Action Mental Health’s ‘Stand-up for Someone’ comedy nights planned for April, these offer a great opportunity to enjoy a laugh with friends and family while raising funds for vital mental health services.
“I think, particularly in Northern Ireland, we have a very good sense of humour,” said Lauren. “It’s a part of our culture. Sharing a laugh with someone bonds you. It’s how people make connections and what we know about mental health is that people’s mental health deteriorates without connection. Anything that encourages connection is part of that and something to celebrate.”
A range of acrylic artwork produced by Action Mental Health service-users from our Belfast, Lisburn, Newtownards and Downpatrick locations recently exhibited at 2 Royal Avenue, Belfast.
The paintings, created as part of a series of workshops facilitated by local artist, Robert Peters, were on display in the city centre until January 29. They subsequently took inspiration from our “I AM SOMEONE” campaign, which aims to raise awareness of mental health issues in Northern Ireland and the fact that, behind every statistic, is a real person.
To produce their work, the Lisburn and Belfast service-users participated in a skills-based painting programme supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland*.
“They created paintings which expressed each individual’s view of what recovery might look like, or their experiences of Action Mental Health’s services,” said Robert.
Meanwhile, those in Newtownards and Downpatrick took part in an acrylic painting programme funded by the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) CLEAR Project, which explored the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’. The programme subsequently encouraged participants to keep learning by developing skills in colour theory, connect with others through the weekly workshops and take notice of their subject matter, said Robert. He added that all of this then led to the creation of images which depicted how they kept active, while the exhibition then gave the public an opportunity “to see the outcomes and learn more about mental health recovery.”
“The classes were great,” said Robert. “They were very positive and I think all the groups enjoyed the process.
“With the Arts Council workshops we focused on colour theory. We did some work around colour mixing and the differences between colours. Once everyone had learned some basic skills they then came up with an image to represent their experiences with Action Mental Health. From their ideas, they generated prompts using AI and then selected the one they thought fitted that best, before painting these images. The PHA workshops then focused on the Five Ways to Wellbeing, so everyone selected something which represented one of those five things.”
A reflection of hope and support
Participants said they found the classes very enjoyable and that they had had a positive impact upon their mental health.
One client said: “Action Mental Health and in particular this painting class have been a port in the storm, a beacon in the fog of my week. I’ve really enjoyed learning about colour theory and mixing the paint to match different tonal valves.”
Others who took part in the workshops said they had provided “a safe environment to learn” and were “extremely helpful” in supporting their mental health.
“It relaxes me; makes me think about shades and colours,” said one person. “We have a good time.”
Reflecting on what the paintings represented, feedback included “community and friendship” and a “feeling of support,” along with “friendship, trust and acceptance… things that everybody wants in their lives.”
One client said their painting “represents routine, which I need in my life,” while another said theirs was to show “that there’s beauty in the simple things in life and to appreciate even the smallest things i.e. nature.”
“It’s hard not to see Action Mental Health as a flaming beacon of hope and a comforting place of warmth in an otherwise dark landscape of my mental health,” said another participant. “The storm clouds represent stressors, the sunrise, the prospect of a new start and the other beacons in the middle distance, the other Action Mental Health sites in Lisburn and Newtownards.”
Reflecting on the benefits of the sessions, Robert said that any opportunity people had to can together and be sociable while taking part in an activity was positive.
“With art, I think the interesting aspect of that is that you can learn new skills and it bolsters your confidence when you achieve something,” he added. “Also, you get to express something of yourself and spend a bit of time contemplating that – what you enjoy. There’s an idea that we become what we contemplate – so the more opportunities there are to contemplate positive things, the better for our wellbeing.
“Other benefits are to do with how our brains perceive different things. When you’re drawing you’re using the visuospatial area of your brain. While you’re using that you can’t really talk because you’re not using a verbal reasoning part of your brain. So, it gives people a break from the constant ‘brain chatter’ which goes on all the time. Verbal reasoning is over-developed in our society, so to get an opportunity to just concentrate on spatial relationships is great. It lets you switch off that part of your brain and takes you into a different zone. Anything that makes you conscious of yourself in space is a good thing.”
* Thanks to National Lottery players and money raised for good causes.
