For the first time in County Mayo research examining the mental health experiences of young people, their families and communities has been published. The report “Developing A Youth Mental Health and Well-Being Support Structure” was launched in Castlebar on Monday April last by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
A key finding from the consultation process is that there needs to be a greater focus on nurturing positive mental health and the need to establish a support service that is accessible, youth friendly and countywide for young people that is effective in helping young people manage their mental health.
An Taoiseach said: “To the young people from across the 10 post primary schools here in Mayo who participated in this study, thank you for sharing your remarkable personal stories. There was a time in Ireland when people were reluctant to discuss personal mental health issues. Thankfully, that was the Ireland of the past. The current generation of young people are far more open and insightful and are keen to address the issue of mental health. This I believe is a very positive development."
Breda Ruane, chairperson of the Mayo Youth Mental Health Initiative, said the initiative was unique in that it involved 22 organisations working together to deliver the research:
“If we can provide young people with the strategies to keep themselves safe, or to help them cope with the stress that they are living with, we have to provide them with access to real support. What we are doing here in Mayo is vital because we are putting a support service in place identified as being necessary by young people themselves, and that will support young people, their families and communities who are experiencing mental health stresses.”
