Dubs participate in mental health workshop

YOUNG people from Dublin recently took part in a workshop designed to inspire youngsters around the country to promote positive mental health in their local community.

Those attending the workshop at the O2 headquarters in Dublin were each awarded a place on the national Think Big programme after successfully submitting an idea for a project in their community.

Think Big has granted initial funding of e300 to help get each project off the ground, along with a mobile phone (with e50 top-up), and a Think Big start-up pack.

Julie Collins and Ellen Kelly, from Firhouse, worked on developing mental health awareness in their area. This project will create awareness visually through the painting of a wall in a tunnel to show that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Niamh McFeely, Roisin Byrne, Emma Quinn, Shannon Fegan and Courtney Fitzpatrick, from Finglas, focused on their project,

‘Erin’s Isle Think Big’.

This project in their local GAA club has many elements to it, including the creation of water bottles with uplifting quotes around the label to promote positive mental health, painting dressing room walls with positive and encouraging quotes and making stickers for hurling helmets to promote mental health in sport.

Eoin O’Liathain, from Glasnevin, created his project,

‘Shoutout’, to open up the discourse about being LGBT in secondary schools in a fresh and engaging way. The project entails a 40-minute stand-alone workshop designed to make students feel comfortable talking about sexuality in a mature way.

Benjamin Boyle and Simon O’Rourke, also from Dublin, focused on their project,

‘KBUG – Know Before U Go’. Their idea is about connecting incoming fresher students before their orientation week, with the goal of reducing the stress and anxiety, often experienced by incoming students and facilitate easier social integration into third level education.

Jill Johnston, Corporate Responsibility Manager at O2, said:

“We would like to congratulate all of our young people who participated in the Think Big training programme and we’re looking forward to seeing them bring their projects to life.

Ashling Flynn, Think Big Co-ordinator, Headstrong, said:

“The young people taking part in Think Big are leading the way in changing how we think about mental health in Ireland.

“Young people intuitively understand the importance of mental health and are ideally placed to promote positive mental health among their peers.

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For more information, visit www.o2ThinkBig.ie