Student Jessica campaigns on mental health issues

IT is very important to be aware of your mental health and the mental health of those around you. Like any other illness, mental illness does not discriminate. It can affect absolutely anyone. They are the words of Jessica Clohisey, a Leaving Cert student from Manor House School, Raheny. 

Jessica (17), from Clontarf, has been at the heart of a number of mental health initiatives. In August 2015, she was selected to go on a retreat programme with Cycle Against Suicide (CAS) and earned a certificate stating that she was one of 14 National Student Ambassadors for the programme. 

“Those two days provided me with a major dose of reality. I’m one of those people where when I spot a problem or somebody needing help, I do my very best to help that person or solve the problem,” Jessica told Northside People.  

“So this was no different. I was going to do absolutely everything in my will to raise awareness in my community of Clontarf, in regard to mental health.”

The following day, Jessica decided to have a Sail Against Suicide event in Clontarf. 

“Three weeks, two national radio station interviews, 30 plus sponsorships later, the first ever Sail Against Suicide took place,” she said.  

Jessica credited her school for beginning her involvement in the activism. Her guidance counsellor Ms Robinson approached her to join “the positive mental health promoting committee” at the beginning of her Transition Year. 

“You know when you get that feeling in your stomach and you know you are doing the right thing? I knew that day that I was doing the right thing,” she recalled. 

“My school, Manor House, has been the backbone of my activism. I am extremely lucky to attend such a fantastic school where all the teachers help the girls on the Smile Committee as much as they possibly can,” she said.  

An ambassador school for CAS, Manor House has an orange painted ‘Smile Room’ within the school building. The room is dedicated to mental health and is full of support service leaflets, positive quotes and mental health education leaflets. 

“I strongly believe, all schools in Ireland should have a positive mental health promoting committee. This is vital for young people. All it takes is one passionate student and teacher to get the ball rolling and all the rest will fall into place,” Jessica said. 

Jessica noted that Ireland is past the stigma stage of mental health and has moved into the “what do we do now” stage. 

“The stigma that surrounded mental health can be addressed through talking. We underestimate the power of a listening ear, a caring smile or an honest compliment, all of which have the power to turn someone’s life around,” she added. 

Jessica hopes to study Culinary Entrepreneurship next year and continue to use her passion for helping others and love for food to raise awareness around mental health. 

REPORT: Hayley Halpin