The serious issues raised on askmammy.ie have led to the identification of two separate, but inter-connected, initiatives. This page will keep you updated with project news and give you a chance to contribute.
Focusing specifically on teenagers, Teenspirit will involve a free magazine for secondary schools with information geared towards teenage interests, an attractive website, www.teenspirit.ie (from which teenagers will be able to ask a straight question and be guaranteed a straight answer from a qualified professional in total confidence) and self esteem courses delivered in schools to develop essential life skills and emotional intelligence.
The second initiative, called Mind Yourself, will address the fact that there is little or no support or information for people who are dealing with someone who has a mental health related problem. I have personal experience of this one and I have people contacting me constantly in desperation wondering how they should deal with a family member or friend who is depressed or suicidal or self-harming or coping with an eating disorder.
When somebody you love is in a black hole, you want to do all you can to help them out of it. But very often what happens is that you get dragged into it! Young people trying to deal with friends or siblings who feel really down are particularly vulnerable because they simply don’t have the foothold on life that adults have.
Mind Yourself will train people how to strengthen themselves first and build up their own self esteem so that they are better able to cope with the people in their lives who are in having trouble keeping their heads above water.
There is still a huge stigma surrounding mental health issues so very often whole families are suffering in silence to try and protect one member who is having a hard time tackling everyday life. So Mind Yourself will also offer support groups so that these people will no longer feel so alone and isolated.