Non-profit magazine reaches out to Westmeath

Last month saw the very successful launch of the second issue of HeadSpace Magazine, a new non-profit artistic magazine. The majority of HeadSpace Magazine copies are distributed for free in psychiatric wards and mental health support services around the country and has been distributed to different locations across Dublin, Cork, Laois and Carlow and Westmeath.

A literary and artistic anthology themed on mental health, the magazine was set-up to address the lack of appropriate reading material in wards and waiting rooms, and to provide a forum where people with experience of mental health issues could communicate their experiences, thereby increasing public understanding of mental health.

“It’s more acceptable now to talk about mental health than it has been,” Naomi Elster, HeadSpace Editor, commented: “but it’s still a hard conversation to start. Through writing and art we can communicate experiences too painful to address more directly, and creative arts have always served to start conversation and bring understanding.”
 
Poet Brian O’Driscoll, whose work has featured in both issues of HeadSpace magazine, remarked: “HeadSpace does exactly what it says on the tin - as well as being an outrageously welcoming avenue where aspiring artists can come and ply their trait in an often heartbreaking, always necessary manner, first and foremost it offers supreme solace to people suffering with mental health issues, eagerly handing they and their network of support the absolute right tools for combat.”
 
The launch featured spoken word, poetry, musical and comedy performances from HeadSpace contributors and supporters. HeadSpace Issue 2 has so far been distributed to St Patrick’s Hospital, Dublin, the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise, Focus Ireland Café, St Loman’s Hospital, Mullingar, St Dympna’s Hospital Carlow, Cherry Orchard Clinic Dublin, Crumlin Mental Health, Rehab Ireland, Carraig Mor Hospital Cork, and the Basin Club Resource Centre, Dublin.

The HeadSpace team are working on distributing to many more hospitals and centres across the country. A small number of copies are also being distributed to the NHS and Hearing Voices Network in Middlesex, UK. Issue 2 is proudly supported by the Rehab Group’s Visual and Performing Arts Fund.
 
Angela Kerins, Chief Executive, the Rehab Group said: “The Rehab Group’s Visual and Performing Arts Fund is delighted to support this edition of Headspace magazine which offers a unique insight into mental health through a variety of creative mediums. It is an important resource which provides insights into mental health, helps to overcome stigma and promotes positive mental health and well-being.”
 
Issue 2 can be purchased online for €5 (including shipping), with all proceeds going back into providing free copies to hospitals and resource centres at www.headspacemagazine.bigcartel.com.
Submissions for the next issue, to be launched in the summer, will open on March 12.