Community-based mental health service, MyMind, launched its new Galway city centre service at Urban Wellbeing, Tuam Rd, in style in the Hyde Hotel on Thursday, October 17.
The first, and largest, blended model of mental healthcare in Ireland, MyMind's expansion into Galway was officially launched by guest speaker, MEP Maria Walsh, who lauded the organisation for its accessible, low-cost model.
“When you take it down to the grassroots level with the supports that you’re offering here… People can come in, I think it’s €30 to €60 in terms of offering. They will not need to have a referral. People with nowhere to go. Even the way you’ve designed it with free car parking is phenomenal, because it alleviates the restrictions on people going and getting the help when they need it the most," said MEP Walsh.
Established by Krystian Fikert in 2006, MyMind is a not-for-profit social enterprise that aims to make mental health services available to everyone in Ireland, regardless of the economic status of those seeking support. Boasting a network of more than 170 psychotherapists and counsellors providing both online and face-to-face services in nine locations, MyMind even offers an online bilingual mental health service that is available in more than 25 languages.
Particularly popular given the current economic climate is MyMind's 'low cost' appointments which are set at a rate of €30 for 'full-time third level students, retirees, the unemployed, and any person earning less than €25,000 annually'.
The local reception to MyMind's Galway expansion has been a warm one, with 81 clients having used the service during its first five weeks in operation in the city. With a half of the service users already engaging with MyMind's mental health counselling and psychotherapy services, utilising MyMind's low cost appointments, Fikert says it is proof of the demand for this type of service.
"There is definitely demand for Low Cost appointments, and we see this across the board," concluded Fikert.
