Voice Notes: from the Group Chat is a space where young people from ethnic minorities in Ireland sit down and say the things we usually only talk about when the mics are not present.

We’re chatting about the stuff that actually affects us: trying to get help for our mental health, dealing with racism in healthcare, and figuring out dating when you’re carrying a lot. It’s not an interview, and it’s definitely not a panel. It’s just honest chats with people who get it.

And at the end of each episode, there’s one final twist: a sealed envelope with a question someone’s never asked out loud. We open it, read it, and see where it takes us.

These are the chats that happen when no one’s watching. Until now.

Voice Notes: From the Group Chat, featuring members of spunout’s BAME Action Panel: Aisha, Angela, Angie, Colleen, Ebere, and Ia.

The series launched in the lead-up to International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, highlighting the importance of creating platforms where young people from ethnic minorities can speak about their experiences directly.

Episode One – Mental Health

In episode 1, we focus on mental health. We discuss the cost of therapy, waiting lists for public services, stigma within communities and the impact of racism on wellbeing. We also outline what mental health support could look like if it were designed by young people themselves, including calls for affordable, accessible and culturally informed services.

Listen and save episode 1 to your library on Spotify.

Resources

• Mental health advice from Black Therapists Ireland
• Black Therapists Ireland: How to talk to your parents
• Black Therapists Ireland on dealing with racism
• spunout’s Anti-Racism Guide

Feeling overwhelmed and want to talk to someone?

• Get anonymous support 24/7 with our text message support service
• Connect with a trained volunteer who will listen to you, and help you to move forward feeling better
• Whatsapp us now or free-text SPUNOUT to 50808 to begin.
• Find out more about our text message support service

If you are a customer of the 48 or An Post network or cannot get through using the ‘50808’ short code please text HELLO to 086 1800 280 (standard message rates may apply). Some smaller networks do not support short codes like ‘50808’.