Former professional boxer Carl Frampton has urged young people to talk about their mental health struggles as he helped launch a suicide awareness video for use in schools across Northern Ireland.
The video, ‘Listen Up’, was created by pupils at four schools in Co Antrim and focuses on children and young people’s mental health, in particular suicide prevention.
The initiative by the Education Authority (EA) will see the video used as part of a teacher professional learning resource in a bid to better equip staff to deal with a child in a mental health crisis.
One of the main focuses of the video is to empower parents to act when a child is showing signs of suicidal thoughts or crisis.
It debunks some myths around what is appropriate to say and do and what is not.
It also provides a valuable guide to recognising the symptoms of a suicidal crisis, as well as specific steps to getting and giving help.
Pupils from St Patrick’s Academy, Malone Integrated College, Lisnagarvey High School and St Colm’s High School took part in the video.
Speaking at the launch event in St Patrick’s in Lisburn on Wednesday, Mr Frampton said: “Mental health is a cause very close to my heart.
“I think it is wonderful the students in these schools have worked together to create this impactful video, which will help young people across Northern Ireland.
“This video will raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention and encourage more open discussion and understanding of these issues.”
- Two years on from suicide of young Belfast man, friends raise over £18,000 with football tournamentOpens in new window
- Number of children referred for emergency mental health treatment rises by 53%Opens in new window
- Approval granted for new integrated post-primary school in Co DownOpens in new window
- Carl Frampton: Assembly needs to return before any discussion on United IrelandOpens in new window
Barry Mulholland from the EA said they were “delighted to support the use of this video, through our pupil wellbeing services”.
“This will provide a professional training and development tool to support schools in dealing with this complex issue and more widely to raise awareness with parents and carers,” he said.
Eve Bremner, chief executive of Council of Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), added: “Suicide is an issue that affects so many families and I hope the advice and support in this video will ultimately help to reduce harm and save lives.
“I congratulate the students for collaborating on such an important topic and look forward to this important resource being made available to all schools.”
The project was funded by Choice Housing and was produced by ALPs Suicide Prevention Charity.
