Minding Creative Minds (MCM) has continued its video awareness campaign to emphasise exactly how far-reaching the organisation aims to be, with appearances from street dancers, poets, theatre workers and visual artists in its latest cut.

Minding Creative Minds' counselling services (in association with Spectrum Life) include: a 24/7 dedicated phone line; short-term intervention, phone counselling, secure video counselling and comprehensive web portal and app enabling live chat function with a counsellor.

In one of four awareness-raising videos, a range of creatives speak to camera about their profession and remind the viewer that MCM's services are available to all. It's a powerful way to locate their target audience with precision.

MCM hope the videos will speak to the creative community, allowing them the choice to get vital mental health services, life advice, career help and more. It's the perfect way to unify an entire sector which was deeply affected by the Covid-19 restrictions, with many artists made redundant or forced to abandon their industry entirely.

The initiative, which had been in planning since 2018 by Choice Music Prize co-founder, artist manager and psychotherapy graduate Dave Reid, was launched during the summer of 2020. Initially, Minding Creative Minds services were open to the music sector only; including artists, artist managers, support staff and live music events staff, however, as a direct result of additional funding within six months the organisation’s services were opened up to the entire creative sector; almost one year ahead of schedule.

Over the 17 months since its launch in 2020, Minding Creative Minds has facilitated in the region of 1,000 hours of support. Minding Creative Minds are ready to take it even further from December 2021 onwards.

“Our message is simple, with a few key guide markers; Minding Creative Minds was established specifically for our creative sector, for its people, for our needs," MCM founder Dave Reid explains. "Regardless of your job in the sector; whether you are a stage performer or if you work in a support role; you are in the Irish Creative sector and our services are available to you."

Minding Creative Minds offer a wide range of support services, from mental health support and counselling to advice on practical issues (legal, financial, life coaching, career advice, administrative questions around your business if you are self-employed and much more).

"Our focus is to support the entire individual," Reid continued. "It is hugely important to us that our colleagues and peers in our sector truly believe no issue is too trivial. You do not need to be in a crisis situation to contact us. You will hear us say and write this quite a lot! If you have anything on your mind whatsoever, contact us and let us help you. Our services are free to the user and confidential. So, if you have considered contacting us, but didn’t please follow through. We want to help.”

• Minding Creative Minds services can now be contacted by texting ‘Hi’ to 087 369 0010 for SMS & WhatsApp Support (standard rate applies) with a qualified psychotherapist / counsellor.

Check out Minding Creative Minds' second video in the campaign, aimed at those in TV, Film & Media, below:

Stay tuned for our interview with Dave Reid in the December 2021 issue of Hot Press.