Ask to focus on student mental health through ‘Vent in the Tent’ forum

LEAVING CERT students in Wexford’s secondary schools will have the chance to ‘Vent in the Tent’ on Friday when they attend a special mental health day, organised by the Ask Campaign.

World Mental Health Day takes place on October 10 and this year’s theme is ‘Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World’.

With this in mind, the Ask campaign was keen to focus on the issues that affect adolescents and young adults, and organised for a range of speakers to take part in this event in the Spiegeltent.

The forum will give students a greater insight into mental health and ultimately reinforce the concept that mental health is not something to be afraid of discussing, or something to be ashamed of.

Guest speakers for the event will include Senior child psychologist Peadar Maxwell who will speak on exam stress/anxiety; Dermot Rafter (behavior support specialist); social media blogger Rosie Connolly who will speak about the pressures around image and expectations of social media; and renowned Irish comedian Danny O’Brien will speak about the arts and anxiety associated with public speaking while putting a comedic slant on it.

Finally, local woman Nadine O’Brien will share her most difficult experience of losing a loved one by suicide and her subsequent battle with her own mental health.

There will be a couple of other surprise guests also for the students on the day.

The event has reached full capacity with 450 students due to attend.