Young singers remind their peers that they are not alone in crisis
WITH more and more young people experiencing mental health issues due to Covid-19, a group of Wexford students have helped make a musical video which encourages those suffering to talk about their problems.
Created by the Young SVP Programme in the South east, the video is intended to offer support for those students all over the country who are feeling down, worried or anxious, and encourages them to talk about their anxieties and remind them that help is on hand.
The Wexford students singing on the video are Eryn Buckley (Our Lady of Lourdes Secondary School, New Ross). Jessie Byrne (Presentation Secondary School, Wexford), Shauna Barry and Kerri Cleary (St Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross) and Mia Redmond (Coláiste an Átha, Kilmuckridge).
The song performed is ‘You Will Be Found’ which comes from Broadway musical ‘Dear Evan Hanson’ the story of a US teenager with social anxiety issues.
Debbie O’Halloran, SVP Youth Development Officer in the south east, said that these Transition Year and Fifth Year students were so aware of the impact on mental health brought about by the coronavirus pandemic that they agreed without hesitation to sing together on this video.
The Young SVP Programme is a youth development programme designed for use in school/ youth groups. The programme focuses on social action within the ethos and mission of SVP. Young people are offered opportunities to learn about SVP, Social Justice and how to engage in social action in a positive, meaningful way.
The SVP National Youth Development officer Becca Gallagher said the #youarenotalone initiative is a perfect example of the level of concern for others that is engendered in the Young SVP Programme.
The video which can be viewed at https:// www.svp.ie/youarenotalone ends with an encouragement to call Pieta House or The Samaritans if you need help.