If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Best Of
Re: im taking some time away ❤️
@eylah I hope you are doing okay today and also this week in general general. It's important to take breaks and I respect your need for taking time away from here. However I still want to echo that we are always here if you do any support in the meantime or a listening ear. I will miss you but I hope your break is relaxing and allows for you to have a nice break too.
Amy22
1
Friday General Chats!
Hey folks!
We’re excited to launch a new General chat session on Fridays from 1:30–3:00 PM, which we’ll be trialling every Friday until the end of June. If it goes well, it might become a permanent fixture!
In response to feedback we've been recieving from yourselves, we’re also working hard to increase the number of evening chat sessions and are doing everything we can to make that happen in the near future.
Here’s why we’re trying out Friday afternoons:
The first chat will be next Friday 9th May 1:30 - 3:00pm. Look forward to seeing whoever can make it there!
We’re excited to launch a new General chat session on Fridays from 1:30–3:00 PM, which we’ll be trialling every Friday until the end of June. If it goes well, it might become a permanent fixture!
In response to feedback we've been recieving from yourselves, we’re also working hard to increase the number of evening chat sessions and are doing everything we can to make that happen in the near future.
Here’s why we’re trying out Friday afternoons:
- Until now, we’ve only offered evening sessions – we want to give an afternoon option too.
- These sessions can be run by our staff if no moderators are available, meaning there’s less chance of having to cancel.
- Plus, Friday is actually our busiest day for people visiting the community website for support and information, so we’re keen to see how a Friday group chat performs.
- The reason we're offering a General Chat too rather than Support Chat is because General Chat requires fewer facilitators to run safely, again reducing the liklihood of cancellations.
The first chat will be next Friday 9th May 1:30 - 3:00pm. Look forward to seeing whoever can make it there!
Sian321
5
Re: im taking some time away ❤️
i am going to be taking a break from the mix. i need to focus on myself and rn im the important person and i need to focus on that. i will attend some chats but if i get a spot on circle ill attend that. i appreciate you all so much but rn i just need to step away from the boards. i am sending you all love and hugs. heres some support services if youre struggling.
85258 - shout
116123 - samaritans
hopelineuk - txt: 88247 call: 08000684141 or use their website to access the webchat.
or 111 for less urgent medical help or 999 in a emergency. mental health matters as much as physical health. ❤️
i care abt you allyour so important!
@eylah I hope you're ok, we are all going to miss you, you're a great valued member on here but I'm glad you are going to be around some chat sessions. It's understandable to take a bit of a break and I fully respect that. I hope you can come back soon though. Good luck with everything and remember you're never alone.
Re: im taking some time away ❤️
hey @eylah 🙂
it’s so important you make whatever decision is right for you, and if that is taking time away then you need to do that - i’m so proud of you for putting yourself first!!
we’ll always be here for you whenever you need - please never forget just how amazing you are and how much you bring to this world, you matter so much
it’s so important you make whatever decision is right for you, and if that is taking time away then you need to do that - i’m so proud of you for putting yourself first!!
we’ll always be here for you whenever you need - please never forget just how amazing you are and how much you bring to this world, you matter so much
Re: unsure of what to do!!
shannon_164 wrote: »hey🙂
soo basically, at the age of 21 i am still incapable of making decisions lol
what the situation is:currently, i am studying btec level 3 health and social care which is the equivalent of 3 a levels meaning that you can progress onto university (obviously this will depend on you getting the grades). i do enjoy the course, however, the college i am at, well i haven't had a good experience lets just say... i am approaching the end of year 1 of the course and unsure what to do next (its a 2 year course just for reference). i have looked into transferring colleges, which is an option as long as i complete year 1 however, this led me to discovering another course (which is one year long) that i really want to do instead so now im kinda lost i guess? the other college seem such better vibes after meeting with their course coordinator, and waaay more supportive too!
one thing that is really stressing me out about year 2 of my current course is that we have to complete 100 hours of work experience, which i know across the space of 8 months is not at all a lot of hours, but on top of already being in employment, studying a full time course and voluntary roles i have, its going to be hard to squeeze in - especially since my main part time job is not at all flexible to allow for anything else in life lol
in terms of employment - i currently have 2 jobs - my main job being in the airport for 20 hours per week (i hate this job though) and my other being a support worker with children and young people specifically for a few hours per month (i love this job though). i am trying to find a job elsewhere in relation to what i really want to do, rather than the airport - i would absolutely LOVE if more hours at my other job was an option, but unfortunately not:( though this morning they have advertised a new role, its super similar to my current role there, but rather than specifically children and young people, it would be any age group which i wouldn't mind - my only worry around it is, they state you must live in the area advertised which i don't, i live about 40 minutes away, however, i live in the middle of nowhere so i am going to have a minimum travel time to any job of about 20 minutes anyways unless i want to be a farmer lol - i am feeling positive ish about that aspect though as my current job with them said you must live within the area advertised, again, the three areas they advertised for i don't live in but they were ok with that as i can drive and said i am willing to travel (its about 30 minutes travelling time).
what i want for the future:for several years now, i have been so so set on youth work as my career goal but there has been times where i have considered other things too - some of what i've also thought about has been social work, mental health nursing and psychology.
in line with the youth work career goal, i have recently completed my ocn level 2 youth work qualification alongside working as a support worker with children and young people specifically (my mega part time job) and volunteering in a few different places, all either specifically with children and young people or mental health related. i have considered maybe looking into employment with the education authority as you are able to complete the level 2 and 3 youth work qualifications through them when in employment, however, the downside to completing them with the education authority is that they do not offer the ocn youth work qualifications, it is their own which is only recognised by the education authority and worthless effectively in terms of being qualified to level 2 / 3 standard outside of the education authority; on top of that, it isn't possible at present as their roles are all for 3-6 hours per week which isn't enough hours for me and not something that can coincide with my main part time job at the airport since there is no flexibility there - it's been a struggle with college!!!
what the options i have are:original plan:
since debating between youth work and other careers, primarily social work, my plan was to complete the btec level 3 health and social care then go on to complete the btec level 4 social and community work course (which to my knowledge are enough to get into uni) then let that be my decider so to speak for which one i want to do since it covers both social and youth work - the entry requirements for the level 4 courses are 1 a level and be currently employed / volunteering in a relevant setting. after this, then going to uni to do whichever i decide on.
i have a few options, these are:
> option 1 - stay at current college and complete year 2 of the course gaining the equivalent of 3 a levels, however, it ending up the same as how this year has been and absolutely hating it.
>option 2 - transfer colleges and complete year 2 of the course gaining the equivalent of 3 a levels, hopefully having a better experience than what my current college has been.
>option 3 - finish year 1 and bank the equivalent of 1 a level then go to the other college to study ocn level 3 youth work, however, an ocn level 3 is NOT equivalent to a levels (i think it carries only 8 ucas points?)
i think, key word being think lol, that what i think i want to do most is:
>complete year 1 of the course and bank 1 a level
>go to the other college and complete ocn level 3 youth work
>complete the level 4 social and community work course
>if at the time i want to, then go to uni and do either youth work or social work
i did reach out to the ni careers service this morning and explained my situation asking for advice for him to tell me at first he cant help, i need to speak to a careers advisor which baffled me as i assumed reaching out to the ni careers service which states "Need careers guidance, advice or support – contact the Careers Service for help by phoning 0300 200 7820, by email or webchat" at the top of their website was me speaking to a careers advisor then, but maybe not lol? anyways, in the end his advice was "its a good idea to keep your options open" which didn't help me with any of this haha
anyways, thank you for reading if you made it this far
Hey @shannon_164 . Honestly, you’re doing better than you think it’s normal to feel unsure what do in life. If youth work feels right and the new college seems more supportive, it’s okay to follow that. Trust yourself, take it one step at a time you’ve got this, whatever you do.
Re: Mental health short stories 2025
Lottie5433 wrote: »Redemption wrote: »
@Lottie5433 it's really sad to see go but if this is what's best for you then I respect your decision. Youll always be welcome to come back I'm sure you're going to be missed by all of us. Good luck with everything ❤️. We're always here if you want to return ❤️ but do what's best you. I hope you're ok.
Thank you @Redemption I appreciate 🙂
I dont really know what to say anymore. I dont think i will be missed but thats fine anyways.
Im fine for the most part 🫠
Thank you again ❤️
@Lottie5433 no problem, but you'll definitely be missed by I'm sure all of us, please don't think otherwise. I was sad to see you're leaving and still am, I wish you can stay but I as well as everyone wants what's best for you so if you think leaving is the best for you then I respect that and if you want to come back you'll be always welcome or if you did want to stay you'll be always welcome to stay too. You know where we are if you need anything whatever decision you make ❤️. You're a great person, remember if you ever struggle you're never alone ❤️.
