Columbine principal to speak in Dublin

THE principal of Columbine High School at the time of the 1999 shooting, when 14 students and one teacher were killed in the notorious massacre, is to give a talk in Dublin later this month.

Frank DeAngelis will be the guest speaker at the public event in the Mansion House on Wednesday, September 14 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

The event, which is hosted by Dr Tony Bates, the founding director of Jigsaw, is open to the public and tickets can be reserved at jigsaw.ie/lessonslearned.

DeAngelis came to prominence as the principal who stood with the school and rebuilt a broken community after the tragic deaths of 15 people on an ordinary school day.

Instead of getting lost in the gun control debate, Frank DeAngelis concentrated on what this tragedy could teach parents, teachers and communities. He has been praised for unflinching honesty and humility in passing on the lessons learned about adults need to start listening to young people.

In his conversation with Tony Bates, Frank will also cover topics such as the importance of being present and staying involved as parents, even when adolescents tell us we’re not needed; staying in touch with the role of social media in young people’s lives; how to spot the often subtle signs of a young person in distress and the role of self-care in the work on behalf of young people.

Speaking about why he invited Frank DeAngelis to Ireland, Dr Bates said that Columbine’s experience of how they found their way back from a most appalling tragedy was an important story for the mental health of all young people.

Tickets are €25 each, and monies raised will help to further the work of Jigsaw – the National Centre for Youth Mental Health.

‘Frank DeAngelis – Lessons Learned: In conversation with Jigsaw’s Tony Bates’ is on Wednesday, September 14 from 6.30pm – 8.30pm (registration from 5.30pm) in the Mansion House, 2 Dawson Street, Dublin 2.

Tickets are €25 and you can book your tickets online at jigsaw.ie/lessonslearned

All funds raised will support Jigsaw’s work with young people’s mental health here in Ireland.

Jigsaw sets out to change how Ireland thinks about and responds to young people’s mental health, through research, engagement and services.

Since the first Jigsaw opened in 2008, they have directly supported the mental health of more than 13,000 young people across Ireland.

In 2015 alone they were able to directly support more than 3,900 young people. 

As well as providing direct support through Jigsaw, their community workshops and training have reached more than 11,000 people in 2015, including volunteers and professionals who work with young people, parents.These include sessions on how to support young people with their mental health, and understanding some of the challenges they face. 

Find out more about the work they do at jigsaw.ie