Support World Mental Health Month by participating in a local bake sale

October 10th is World Mental Health Day, but this year, Mental Health Ireland has chosen to extend the campaign and theme to the whole month of October. It’s a time to raise awareness and raise funds for such a worthy cause.

Mental Health Ireland’s mission is to promote and enhance mental health and wellbeing and to create a culture where we are all respected and supported, especially when our mental health is challenged.

The organisation builds mental health awareness and understanding through campaigns, training programmes, events, conferences, resources and information. They provide opportunities for capacity building in mental health promotion and recovery through their Tony Leahy Third Level Scholarship Programme. They also contribute to the evidence base on recovery and mental health promotion by leading on and commissioning research.

One way in which you can support Mental Health Ireland this month, is by hosting or participating in a local cake sale. Cake sales bring communities together, while also being the perfect excuse to pick up some homemade baked goods.

There are tonnes of ways in which you can go about organising a bake sale, whether it be amongst work colleagues in the office, after your children’s weekly sports game in the football club or you could even use it as a means to get to know your neighbours, by opening up your garage and setting up shop in there.

A well-planned cake sale offers a variety of flavour options, in a selection of styles. For instance, you might want to include some scones, quiches or breads as well as sweet treats like brownies, cupcakes and traybakes.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to be stingy. Customers are there to support Mental Health Ireland, a truly wonderful cause. Therefore, they won’t mind paying that little bit extra than what they might normally spend in their supermarket for a truly special homemade delight.

For baking inspiration, check out our favourite cake sale recipes, here.

To learn more about Mental Health Ireland and other ways in which you can get involved, go to www.worldmentalhealthmonth-mhi.ie.