Mind Your Mate and Yourself visit SERC

On the 10 April, SERC’s Downpatrick Campus welcomed Ray Cunningham from the charity MYMY- Mind Your Mate and Yourself to speak to The Training for Success Retail, Catering and Administration trainees who are currently involved in ongoing fundraising activities for the charity.

MYMY- Mind Your Mate and Yourself is a voluntary and community sector counselling organisation, with extensive experience in suicide prevention and intervention. Established in 2008 as a direct result of an increase in local suicides the group was formed by several bereaved family members and volunteers.

Ray Cunningham is a Voluntary Director and co-founder of MYMY.

Ray explained how his early 20’s working in the property industry brought him expensive designer clothes, flash car’s and other nice possessions but it couldn’t hide his loneliness resulting in abusing substances such as alcohol and drugs to gain friends.

After suffering a family loss, Ray decided enough was enough and started up a small support group of men, meeting in the Malone Lodge Hotel in Belfast which he cited as the turning point in his life.

Ray then teamed up with two ladies from his local area who ran a branch of PIPS (a support group for those who have attempted or thought about committing suicide) in Newcastle Co Down. This led to MYMY being formed, which began offering counselling services to local people.

Ray said that “No one has to be lonely. There are plenty of support services out there and good people who want to help you on your journey. Join a club and get out and about. Find new interests and new hobbies. Get rid of people in your life who are holding you back or encouraging negative thoughts and behaviors.”

Barbara McNeill Head of School for the Training Organisation said “Rays story is both tragic and inspiring. How far he has come and how he wants to help people spiritually, physically and emotionally is truly inspiring.”

She added “I thank Ray for visiting the college and wish him and MYMY the very best for the future.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the volunteering opportunities within MYMY please contact:

Tel. 028 4372 27549 Email: hello@mymy.org.uk

For future information visit http://mymy.org.uk/