Top rapper tackles mental health issues with young people

ACCLAIMED musician and mental health advocate, Professor Green, visited the Southside last week to speak with local community leaders.

The special event, which was part of the First Fortnight European Mental Health Art and Culture Festival, was hosted by Deputy Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Cathal King at Tallaght Stadium.

The rapper took time out to meet and speak in depth with some young people from the area who are advocating for better approaches and attitudes to mental health.

The event included speeches from Mary McLoughlin of HOPE Suicide Prevention Drop In Centre in Tallaght, Jeff O’Toole of Jobstown Safetalk Programme and Old Bawn native JP Swaine, co-founder of First Fortnight.

There were also performances from local singer/songwriter Justin Casey and poet Stephan James Smith who is from Kingswood.

During his opening comments Deputy Mayor King explained that the main purpose of the event was to bring local groups together to make connections and to learn from each other’s experiences with a view to improving the positive mental health of the entire community through leadership.

“Part of today’s event is an effort to break the social stigma and ensure that our community feel they belong, that there is always a listening ear, and a helpful hand nearby,” Cllr King said.

Stephen Paul Manderson, better known by his stage name Professor Green or simply Pro Green, is a British rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and television personality from London.

He is the co-host of Lip Sync Battle UK on Channel 5 and has a significant presence on BBC Three and increasingly on Channel 4.

Stephen is an advocate for several campaigns on mental health including depression, male suicide, poverty, working-class white men and other challenges facing the vulnerable in society.

In November 2016 Professor Green received the MIND Making a Difference National Award for his dedication to campaigning about men’s mental health through his documentaries, music, autobiography and media work.

The event offered community leaders and young people a unique opportunity to hear an informed perspective on youth and community mental health in the UK while connecting with each other on plans and hopes regarding the issues associated with mental health in 2019.

While in Dublin Professor Green also spoke with 2FM presenter, broadcaster Eoghan Mc Dermott about his own experience in dealing with the death of his father through suicide. First Fortnight is a mental health charity, which runs an annual arts festival.

This year saw a unique edition of the First Fortnight festival where they secured the right to host the Europe’s Mental Health festival in Ireland.

The festival showcased the vibrancy and diversity of modern Ireland with an emphasis on the European community.