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Over the past few weeks you’ve probably been seeing an awful lot of people on social media brandishing their tiny tattoos. No, it’s not just that these people are really passionate about their grammar, although who isn’t these days?

Actually, the viral body art has a much deeper meaning. Most tattoos will have a story behind them, and for those who are part of the #semicolonproject, it’s more than just a punctuation symbol.

The tattoos are reflections of the individual’s struggles with mental health issues such as depression or addiction.

Project Semicolon was founded by Amy Bluel, who said "A semicolon is used when an author could've chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life."

Amy lost her father to suicide and told the Huffington Post one of the reasons why she set up the project:

“I set out to inspire others so they can know they are not alone, that their story matters.”

And she is:

The project has its own website which encourages people to post images of their tattoos and share their stories. Since the project’s beginning, huge numbers of social media users have gotten on board to spread their support and raise awareness through the viral hashtag.

These are just some of the images which have been spotted which are hoping to spread Amy’s inspirational message. 

 

 

 

People are spreading Amy's message without getting inked themselves, some are using Sharpie's for their designs, and painting.

 

 

 

 

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Anxiety can affect us at any time – and the signs might not always be what you'd expect.

Whether you're about to head into a job interview, having trouble at home or simply feeling stressed out, it's important to be able to recognise signs of anxiety and know how to help your body to control them.

As well as physical effects like irregular breathing, a dry mouth, sweating and that "butterflies in your stomach" feeling, anxiety can also bring on a number of psychological effects too such as lack of concentration, disturbed sleep patterns, constant worrying and loss of appetite.

If you're finding that anxiety is affecting you in your everyday life more than it should, here are a few simple changes that can help to ease it. 

Talk it out
It's so important to discuss your feelings with others if you're not feeling yourself. Draw on support networks like friends, family or a trusted co-worker if you feel you need to let off steam. Sharing your problems is one of the key steps to solving them. If you feel you're struggling to cope, don't be afraid to seek professional help from a counsellor or your GP.

Know your body
If you notice the same symptoms of anxiety recurring – you haven't been sleeping well for weeks, or you constantly feel panicked before work, for example – it's important to be mindful of those feelings. It will not only help you in trying to find the root of the problem, but you can also arm yourself with anxiety-reducing tips and techniques.

Breathe, breathe, breathe
Sometimes a few moments to yourself is all that's needed to calm your nerves. One good relaxation technique is to breathe in deeply and let the air hit the tip of your tongue, before breathing out slowly and repeating three times. Others recommend breathing in and out ten times, counting on each exhale, to occupy your mind and calm the nervous system.

Move your body
Even a moderate amount of physical energy each day is vital for clearing your head and de-stressing. A short walk on your lunch break or after work is enough to get you going.

Avoid excessive alcohol
Yes, alcohol might calm you down in the short term, but once it wears off you'll only be left feeling worse and your brain will be less able to cope with your worries (hello, Hangover Fear).

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Many Irish people, especially students, will have by now heard about the ‘Cashface’ #nothingtohide campaign.

Started by UCD student, Pat McKeown who shared his story about his struggle with mental health, the campaign has now taken off on social media in a way that can only be great for Ireland’s mental health awareness.

Now the campaign has gone viral, with stories including Clare O’Connor’s, leading many others to share their own Cashface and share with other people that there is #NothingToHide when it comes to mental health.

Even UFC fighter, Conor McGregor has taken part in the campaign, posing with Pat with his very own Cashface. Although the campaign has been around since last year, February 2015 is set to be #NothingToHideMonth so let's all make sure we get behind this great campaign and it's positive message! 

Check out the Cashface Facebook page to find out more about this great approach to one of Ireland’s biggest problems. 

It's time for us all to realise that when it comes to mental health, there is #NothingToHide! 

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A young woman's simple but startling video has gone viral this week, after she bravely chose to share her story of abuse, bullying and self-harm with the world.

Anne Gruenwald was abused by her mother's boyfriend from the age of seven. What followed was years of depression and self-harm as Anna tried to come to terms with what she had gone through at such a young age.

Now in her teens, Anna has told her story to the world, to show others that they are not alone. 

Post by Anna Lee Gruenwald.

What a brave young woman.

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It's not just the incidents in our daily lives that can have a negative effect on our mental health, but our own routine and thought processes too.

We might not think that our sleeping pattern or our exercise routine can have a direct effect on our state of mind, but the truth is, they can have just as much of an impact as outside factors can.

If you're feeling more anxious or down than usual, could one of these habits be part of the problem?

1. You're avoiding physical exercise
If you're feeling stressed, heading home and skipping the gym can seem like the best option. But that exercise session could in fact be a great help. Regular workouts can actually ease symptoms of anxiety and can help you to develop better mental health. Try to fit more exercise into your day – even a brisk walk on your lunch break is a great way to clear your head.

2. You're drinking a lot of alcohol
After a bad day, we often crave that glass of wine or G&T to take the edge off. But alcohol is a natural depressant and can actually make your mood worse. Drinking late at night also means your sleep pattern will be disturbed and you won't wake up refreshed and ready for the day.

3. You're not getting enough sleep
Getting the right amount of shut-eye is SO important for maintaining good mental health. If you're lacking in sleep, even simple situations can seem harder to cope with. Often anxiety and stress can affect how much sleep we get, so give yourself a fighting chance by winding down around 30 minutes before bedtime with calm music, no laptop or phone and a cosy environment.

4. You're over-thinking things
Focusing on the same subject and thinking the same thoughts over and over can make us feel instantly stressed, sending our heart and breathing rates shooting up. When you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, try physically calming yourself down using deep breathing techniques. Get a change of scenery for a few minutes – even going into the next room or making a cup of tea can help.

5. You're holding onto anger
When we're annoyed or frustrated, sometimes it feels like the best solution is to avoid confrontation to avoid further negativtiy. But bottling up your feelings will only lead to them bubbling up in you further down the line. Try to communicate your feelings calmly or even just write them down to help you sort through them. You'll find this is more helpful than holding onto a grudge.

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Cheryl Fernandez-Versini is not having the best week of her career so far after being accused of miming on Sunday’s X Factor and blasting a follower on Instagram yesterday.

Now, the singer has angered mental health sufferers and charities after comments she made during Lola’s performance last weekend.

Lola performed Crazy by Gnarls Barkley and when Simon asked where the Halloween aspect was in the set, Cheryl replied: “It was crazy, we had a theme. If you didn’t notice there were people in straitjackets.”

Now, mental health organisation, Mind and Rethink Mental Illness’ Time to Change have blasted Cheryl’s words, as spokesperson Kate Nightingale told The Daily Mirror: “The X Factor is watched by millions and implying that mental health problems are scary it’s irresponsibly fuelling damaging myths and misconception.”

Twitter users also condemned Cheryl, with many complaining that her words are offensive and damaging to those suffering from mental health issues:

As of yet, Cheryl hasn't addressed the controversial situation but it may be a good idea… 

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When you go through something tough in life, or when you’re just feeling down, it can be hard to know whether the way you’re feeling is normal, or if you could benefit from seeing a professional. Here are five occasions when getting professional help is a really good idea:

If it’s affecting your daily life
If you just can’t concentrate any more, don’t want to socialise or you just can’t seem to muster up motivation for anything, then perhaps talking to a professional could help you get back on track.

You’ve tried everything else
If you’ve tried all the usual things such as talking to a friend, exercising or meditation, but nothing seems to have changed, then it’s a totally valid reason to go to see a therapist.

You can’t talk to your family anymore
It’s great to be able to talk to your family and friends, but if things are really bad, and you feel like you can’t tell them anymore, then you need to see someone whose job it is to listen, and who isn’t emotionally involved. The difference this makes is immense.

You start abusing some kind of substance
Whether it’s food or alcohol, or something entirely different, the minute you start abusing something is the minute you know it’s time to see a professional. Becoming dependent on something like this isn’t healthy, for your body or your mind.

People are starting to notice
If your friends have mentioned that you haven’t been yourself lately, then you know it’s gotten to a stage where you can’t hide it anymore. This is proof of the extent of your stress, so you should definitely seek out a good therapist.

Remember, the sooner you get help, the sooner you’ll feel like yourself again.

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Life is stressful,  from trying to get good marks in colleges, finding a job, working in a job to the stress of simply living at home with your younger siblings, there is no escaping it.

Here are three signs you really need to relax and get rid of some of that workload:

Stomach cramps
Not pretty, but stress can lead to diarrhoea and constipation. One of the most effective ways to distress is to exercise- go out for a run or join a Zumba class and work that stress out of you.

Acne
Looking a bit spotter than usual? Well, you can put this down to stress. Apart from trying to unclog your pores or de-junk you diet, reducing stress will significantly reduce your breakouts.

Losing your hair
Now this is scary. If constipation doesn’t motivate you enough to de-stress, hair loss will. High levels of the hormone androgen is caused by stress and it’s because of this that your hair will temporarily fall out.

If things really are starting to get on top of you, talk to someone. While exercise is important for releasing stress so too is opening up about the problem. Try to sort issues at the source be it down to college, work or family problems.

 

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Panic attacks are alot more common than people like to think. In fact, many of us could have a panic attack without actually knowing what’s really going.

Here are the signs to spot:

Heart palpitations
Heart palpitations are a common symptom of panic attacks. Your heart may increase suddenly and start racing for no reason. Take deep breaths to clam yourself.

Feeling detached
If you are starting to feel like you are becoming a little detached from your surroundings tell someone. This can be feelings of isolation or simply feeling like the world is not real. When you start to feel like this, speak out and tell someone.

Shaking
Shaking is another sign that you are having a panic attack. This can range from feeling slightly dizzy or unsteady  to severe trembling. Grab a seat before you fall down.

Sweating
Suddenly breaking out into a cold sweat is another sign that you are having a panic attack. Sit down, breath and try to relax.

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Today is National Time to Talk Day in Ireland.

The Green Ribbon Campaign has set aside today to promote open discussion about mental health and mental health issues.

Many young people today suffer with mental health problems, but they don’t have to suffer alone. Today aims to break the silence that surrounds mental health and mental health issues.

National Time to Talk Day was launched yesterday by former Dublin Rose and broadcaster with 2FM and TG4, Siobhéal Nic Eochaidh, who has experience with mental health problems: “Talking was so important to me when I went through a tough time. It is important that people realise that you don’t have to be an expert to start talking about mental health. All you have to do is let someone know you are there for them and simply listen.”

Workplaces, schools, colleges and homes across Ireland  are being encouraged to start talking about mental health as part of Time to Talk Day.

Here are some tips on how you can start a positive conversation with your friend or parent on mental health:

  1. Ask how you can help – everyone’s experience is different
  2. Just listen – it’s ok not to say anything or not to have the answers
  3. Avoid clichés – “Cheer up”, “Pull yourself together” and “I’m sure it will pass” will not help the conversation
  4. Show support – check in, text, ask how they are doing. Tell the person you are there for them and mean it.

The Green Ribbon Campaign is using the month of May to hold hundreds of local and national events to raise awareness about mental health and to get people talking about it.

Director of See Change, John Saunders, welcomed these campaigns, saying: “It is inspiring to see more than 50 ambassadors coming forward to openly talk about their own experiences of mental health problems as part of the Green Ribbon Campaign. Anyone of us can go through a tough time but the silence around mental health stops people seeking help and can make the experience of being unwell even harder.”

To join in on the Time to Talk Day on Twitter, simply use the hashtag: #TimetoTalk.

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Everyone has felt anxious at some point or another; however, for many people anxiety can become so overwhelming that it can interfere in daily life.

Anxiety is a rising mental health condition, but, for those who don’t suffer from it, it can be hard to relate to what the sufferer is feeling.

Unfortunately a lack of knowledge can manifest itself into insensitive comments and advice.

Ahead of the UK’s Mental Health Awareness Week, the Priory Group conducted a poll asking anxiety sufferers to share the worst thing that someone has said to them about their illness.

Shockingly, the results show that not only is there a lack of knowledge surrounding the condition, there is still a stigma when it comes to mental health.

Dr. Paul McLean consultant psychiatrist at Priory Hospital Hayes Grove says: “Despite there being as many as one in four sufferers of anxiety there is still a stigma attached to mental health. We need to work on educating people to help them understand that anxiety is a normal part of human experience and that it is nothing to be ashamed of.”

The project shows people standing with placards highlighting the negative comments they have received concerning their illness.

You can view more of these photos here.

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Bressie has opened up about his struggles with depression since he was a teenager.

The musician and star of The Voice penned an honest and emotional article for The Irish Independent in which he spoke about John Waters recent comments on mental health that caused much controversy.

John Waters said about depression: “I don’t believe in depression. There’s no such thing. It’s bulls***. It’s a cop out.”

Bressie said he was “low, very low, and scared sh******” after he purposely broke his own arm as a teenager, “One evening, I anchored myself to a chair as I lay by bed and intentionally and repeatedly crashed my forearm against the bridge of the frame until I felt the bone break.”

Bressie spoke about how he feels Ireland has come so far since he was a teenager suffering from depression and although there “may still be people like John who either don’t fully understand the complexities of mental health or are lucky enough not to have been affected by it, but I can tell you one thing, there are far more people out there who do understand.”

He also praises the Irish media in creating a platform for openness surrounding mental health issues, saying: “The Irish media is being incredibly forward thinking and supportive and genuinely having an impact and, without doubt, saving lives.”

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