2024 Year in review

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Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Growth, Impact, and Connection

As we look back on 2024, I am incredibly proud of all that Shine has achieved. This year has been one of growth, resilience, and collaboration, and I want to take a moment to celebrate the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and supporters who have made it all possible.

At Shine, we remain committed to ensuring that everyone affected by mental health challenges is supported, heard, and empowered. Over the past year, we have expanded our services, strengthened our advocacy efforts, and deepened our engagement with communities across Ireland.

Our impact in numbers:

We saw a 41.5% increase in new recovery clients, reflecting the growing need for our support.

• Participation in our peer and relative support groups nearly doubled, showing the power of connection in recovery
• We hosted 237 events, reaching over 10,800 people and creating safe spaces for vital conversations about mental health
• The Green Ribbon Campaign continued to break barriers, with over 600,000 ribbons distributed and powerful conversations happening nationwide.

Advocacy has also been at the heart of our work. This year, we played a key role in shaping national policy on responsible mental health reporting. Our media workshops and policy submissions have helped ensure that stories about mental health are told with dignity and respect.

Of course, challenges remain. Demand for our services continues to rise, and we know there is more work to do to break down stigma and ensure that everyone can access the support they need, when they need it. But what gives me hope is the passion, dedication, and commitment of everyone involved in delivering on our mission. Together, we are making a real difference.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to another year of progress, together.

Nicola Byrne

CEO, Shine