Mental Health Awareness Week 2026: Awareness Is the Spark. Bold Action Is the Fire.
Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 runs 11 to 17 May. The theme, set by the Mental Health Foundation, is Action. At JustMental, we believe action must go further than awareness campaigns and green ribbons, and this week, we are going to prove it. Mental Health Awareness Week has been observed in the United Kingdom since […]
Episode 16: Claire Sugden MLA
In this insightful interview, Claire Sugden shares her journey from a young politician to a mental health advocate, discussing her personal experiences with anxiety, postnatal mental health, and the urgent need for better mental health services in Northern Ireland. Discover her perspectives on trauma, gendered experiences, and the importance of community support in fo
Ben Bennett named in Belfast Telegraph 30 under 30 for 2026
The Belfast Telegraph 30 under 30 for 2026 has been announced, and JustMentalco-founder Ben Bennett has been named in the cohort, six months after the launchof an independent mental health advocacy platform that refuses to call its work“wellness.” JustMental co-founder Ben Bennett has been named in the Belfast Telegraph’s 30 under 30 for 2026, the [&
Belfast Mother and Baby Unit: Historic Win After 20 Years
A permanent, regional Belfast Mother and Baby Unit is to be built at Belfast City Hospital, with a design team to be appointed immediately and a target opening date no later than 2028/29. It is real progress. It is also two and a half more years of women being separated from their newborn babies. JustMental […]
The Wagons Are Circling the Most Vulnerable. JustMental Responds.
Yesterday, the Tony Blair Institute published welfare reform mental health proposals that should concern every person who has ever experienced depression, anxiety, ADHD, or any other condition that others cannot see. Their report, published on 28 April 2026, proposes to classify these conditions as ‘non-work-limiting’, stripping cash benefits from some of the most
Stress Awareness Month 2026: Beyond the Graphics, What Actually Changed?
JustMental · 29 April 2026 · Stress Awareness Month Stress Awareness Month 2026 is nearly over. April has been Stress Awareness Month every year since 1992, a designated moment in the calendar to raise public understanding of stress, its causes, its consequences, and what can be done about it. The campaign was founded by the […]
Now the Government Must Act: How the Social Media Ban Under 16 Reached Its Turning Point
The social media ban under 16 debate reached its most significant moment this week, and it arrived after four House of Lords votes, months of parliamentary ping-pong, and the quiet, persistent dignity of bereaved families who refused to stop. JustMental has covered this story at every stage, https://justmental.net/social-media-ban-starmer-downing-street-april-2026/ .
Exam Stress and Student Mental Health: The Numbers That Should Concern Every School in Northern Ireland
Exam stress mental health challenges in young people have reached a level that demands more than awareness. It demands action. As April draws to a close and exam season begins in earnest, JustMental has examined the latest evidence, and the picture it paints should concern every school, university, parent and policymaker in Northern Ireland. GCSE and […]
Social Media Ban for Under-16s: Four Rounds of Parliamentary Ping-Pong, and Children Are Still Waiting
The social media ban under 16 debate returned to the House of Lords http://commonslibrary.parliament.uk today for the fourth time in three months. JustMental has covered this story at every stage, read our previous coverage of the Commons vote in April. Today, the House of Lords returns to a question it has now answered three times […]
Episode 15: The Níamh Louise Foundation
This interview with Catherine and her team at the Niamh Louise Foundation explores the origins of the foundation, the impact of suicide on families, and the importance of mental health support and intervention. It highlights personal stories, community efforts, and the need for ongoing awareness and funding.