Mental health support for young people

The Ferns Diocesan Youth Service (FDYS) is offering mental health support to young people who are experiencing loneliness, anxiety or uncertainty during the Covid-19 crisis.

‘ There is nothing normal about being confined indoors. There is nothing normal about feeling isolated from our friends’, said Mairead Duffy, chairperson of the Youth Mental Health Cluster of FDYS, which is addressing the new reality facing young people.

‘Some young people are liking this new ‘normal’ as there are no pressures to go out to meet people or to face those things which push up their anxieties. But for others, stress and anxiety is an unfamiliar feeling being created by the current uncertainty in the world’, she said.

Mairead and her colleagues are helping to provide immediate assistance with some of these stresses by simplifying how young people can be connected to an appropriate youth worker or project.

‘Young people are missing contact with extended family members, friends and those with whom they link up for support’, said Mairead. ‘ Their usual support network, including youth workers, counsellors, support workers or teachers, are not physically present in their lives which is daunting’.

‘FDYS recognises this struggle. We are continuing to support them and their communities through supports such as Youth Counselling, Community Based Drugs Initiative, Youth Information, and youth workers.

‘Young people do not need to feel alone or isolated. They just need to pick up the phone, a tablet or laptop to avail of support. Where this is not possible due to broadband limitations of lack of access to technology, face to face support is going to be possible, in a safe and secure way.’

FDYS CEO Kieran Donohoe encouraged young people, their families and community members to contact the service if they have queries or concerns and staff will chat with the young person to ensure they are linked to the most appropriate support for their needs. ‘Even the longest journey starts with one single step, so we ask you to be brave and contact us by phone or text on 085 881 4259, by email on fdyswexford@ gmail.com or on the chat service on www.fdys.ie’, he said.