17 February 2015
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Fianna Fáil is set to hold a public meeting in Charleville to discuss
Youth Mental Health. The meeting will be held at the Charleville Park
Hotel at 8PM on 2nd March next. Guest speakers include Emma Walsh,
mother of the late Donal Walsh and founder of the #LiveLife
Foundation, and Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. John Hillery.
The meeting is being organised by Cork North-West TD Michael Moynihan
and Cllr Ian Doyle.
Deputy Moynihan commented, “Fianna Fáil is holding a public meeting on
youth mental health to identify and address some of the key mental
health pressures that are facing young people today. In 2012 the party
published detailed proposals to promote positive youth mental health
within the education system and reduce the alarmingly high rate of
suicide among young people. We aim to build on those proposals with
our upcoming meeting.
“Since the publication of our policy document we have remained vocal
on the issue of youth mental health. The government has moved to
implement new guidelines at primary school level in an attempt to
address the worrying rise in the rate of suicide amongst young people.
However more needs to be done and in particular greater funding is
needed to help roll out much needed programmes in our education system
that promotes positive mental health among our youth.
“Our meeting will discuss the latest mental health pressures that are
facing young people. The meeting will be addressed by Elma Walsh,
mother of the late Donal Walsh and founder of the inspirational
LiveLife Foundation. Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. John Hillery will
also be in attendance to outline some of the key challenges facing us
today in maintaining positive mental health amongst young people.
“I encourage members of the public to attend so that they can give
their insight on this important issue. The aim of the meeting will be
to further develop policies aimed at promoting positive youth mental
health and to set a roadmap as to how the suicide crisis amongst young
people in this country can be addressed.”
Youth-Mental-Health-Seminar.pdf