Over 200 young people take ‘Positive Steps’
WICKLOW Youth Mental Health Initiative held it’s ‘Positive Steps’ 5km walk on Friday morning with 203 young people taking part.
Representative from Youthreach, Coláiste Chill Mhantáin, and the Dominican College Wicklow took part in the walk. All students received a T-shirt before the walk and breakfast rolls and water when they finished.
The walk is part of the Wicklow Youth Mental Health Initiative ‘gr8 2 b yng’ which is now in its ninth year. The aim of this initiative is to open the discussion with young people about their mental health, by delivering a half day of positive mental health workshops to Transition Year and Youthreach students in October each year.
The workshops took place in Clermont Campus, including a wellness workshop which is aimed at helping people understand and take charge of their own mental health. This was followed by lunch, and the day was finished off with a light hearted drumming workshop.
The programme was delivered by Suicide or Survive, an Irish charity focussed on breaking down the stigma associated with mental health issues
The committee is made up of workers from the WAY Project, School Completion Programme, I.S.P.C.C, Wicklow Child and Family Project, K.W.E.T.B, Croi Rath Naoi, Bray Women’s Refuge and Wicklow Travellers Group. The initiative was supported this year, by funding from the following; Wicklow Children and Young People Services Committee, Tusla, Wicklow County Council, County Wicklow Partnership, Wicklow Mental Health Association, Foroige and the East Coast Regional Drugs Task Force.