Building a community development approach to mental health and poverty
What’s the Story?
In Northern Ireland and Ireland, communities are grappling with the profound mental health impacts of poverty and structural inequalities. These challenges are most acute in deprived areas, amongst underrepresented population groups including carers, young people, ethnic minorities, women, LBGTQI+ and people affected by violence and intergenerational trauma. Key social determinants like income, education, and employment status play a big role in shaping the mental health and wellbeing of communities across the island.
Community organisations are increasingly experiencing burnout from delivering individual lifestyle focused programmes that fail to consider the social circumstances of the people they serve. Recognizing the limitations of these approaches, there is a growing demand for more upstream, collaborative, community led, policy solutions that address the root causes of mental health issues.
Kindly supported by
The Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) and Community Development Mental Health Network (hosted by Community Work Ireland) are joining forces to establish an initiative for community workers and C&V organisations across the island. It aims to reflect on the profound mental health impacts of poverty, exclusion and other structural inequalities, as experienced by marginalised communities, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges.
With support from the St Stephen's Green Trust’s (SSGT) Strengthening Democracy through Civic Engagement and Participation Programme, we have created a platform for dialogue to:
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Connect: community workers north and south to dialogue, share learning, insights, and experiences
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Use our collective influence to amplify the voices of people experiencing poverty, inequality, and mental ill health, ensuring their inclusion and equal participation in their health decision making.
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Build relationships: Establish a diverse partnership network that promotes shared values of inclusivity, compassion, respect, and equalityity -crucial human rights-based and community development responses to community mental health in policy and practice.
Our Partners
We are proud to collaborate with the Mental Health Foundation and a diverse range of community organisations committed to mental health prevention and recovery. Our advisory group, composed of representatives from these partner organizations, guides the project’s direction, advocating for lasting and democratic change in how public services support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
Our advisory Group includes representative from the following organisations:
North South Ideas Exchange June 2024
In June 2024, our first North-South Ideas Exchange brought us together to hear key contributions from organizations like Dublin City University, MindWise and Money Wise, The Practice and Participation of Rights (PPR) -New Script for Mental Health, Cairde, ICON, Gateway Community Mental Health Project Development, and others. This exchange provided valuable insights into how community development works on the ground, with a special focus on housing, poverty, and mental health.
Join our upcoming Crunch Time Webinar Series
This Autumn/Winter, we invite you to join our Crunch Time webinar series—an online community space designed for anyone interested in exploring community development responses to mental health and poverty. These webinars will provide opportunities to connect, share experiences, discuss good practices, and exchange resources to support community work.
For more information or to register for any of the seminars, please click the links below. We look forward to having you join us in these crucial discussions on building a community-driven approach to mental health and poverty.
Seminar 1: What does a Community Development response to Mental Health look like?
24th September 2024. 12 noon – 2pm - onlinet
Seminar 2: Countryside, Creativity and Collective Community Action on Mental Health
18th November 2024, more information to follow
Seminar 3: Structured Community Dialogue/Trialogue
January 2025, more information to follow