MENTAL HEALTH
EDUCATION NOW

We are Pure Mental. An entirely youth-led charity campaigning for mental health education and early intervention in Northern Ireland's primary and secondary schools.

Youth mental health rates in Northern Ireland dwarf those of anywhere else in the British Isles. This is not acceptable.

Founded in August 2019 by Jay Buntin and Matthew Taylor, Pure Mental’s goal is to improve mental health awareness and education in schools across Northern Ireland, with a strong focus on youth involvement and engagement.

We believe that young people need to have a say when it comes to their own mental health, and that their feedback and suggestions on how improvements can be made are key for any future budgets and legislation.  

We work tirelessly with our peers, politicians and the wider public on a number of projects that we believe are essential and effective when it comes to mental health support and awareness for young people across Northern Ireland.

the pure mental team

Matthew Taylor
Co-Founder and Director
Jay Buntin
Co-Founder and Director
Verity WennerDirector/Operations Manager
Rachael Dobbin
Director/Outreach Manager
lAuren mallonDirector/Outreach & Safeguarding Officer
Rebecca Smyth 
Funding Coordinator
Kornelija Aidukeviciute
Treasurer
Theo Burton
Director/Policy & Research Manager
"Pure Mental are an impressive group of young people who are breaking down the stigma and campaigning for improved mental health education and awareness in Northern Ireland. As a grass roots organisation, they have highlighted the difficulties that young people in Northern Ireland have in accessing support for their mental health. They have brought this issue to government and demanded change. They are true Mental Health Champions and an inspiration to all of us."
Siobhàn O’Neill - Mental Health Champion
"Pure Mental is a young person’s mental health and resilience programme designed and delivered by young people for young people. The Education Authority’s Youth Service used this service to enable young people to stay connected during COVID. Pure Mental has had a massive impact on positive mental health for our young people during the most difficult times."
Stuart Kennedy – Senior Youth Worker