Pupils’ mental health message
Programme aims to tackle discrimination
Pupils at Wallace High School have been piloting a new programme designed to help tackle mental health stigma and discrimination.
Fifth and sixth year students want to change the way mental health is viewed by young people across the country.
And See Me, the national programme to end mental health discrimination, launched their ‘What’s on Your Mind?’ pack with senior pupils at the school testing the materials.
Figures released through See Me show that of 885 young people aged 15 to 25 only 37 per cent would tell someone if they were finding it difficult coping with their mental health compared to 78 per cent who would do so if they were physically ill.
When asked how they would cope with negative thoughts and feelings only 21 per cent said they would speak to someone who supports them while 46 per cent would rather stay by themselves and 50 per cent would cry.
Teacher Pamela Steel has been delivering the pack to pupils at the school since January and she said: “It is vital that we empower our young people to talk about their mental health – we cannot allow them to suffer in silence any longer. Young people need to understand what mental health is and be able to recognise when their mental health is at risk.
“It is in our hands, as educators, to change the way young people view mental health and to encourage them to speak up and seek support. I am proud to say that our school is doing just that.”
Laura Sharpe, See Me’s young person’s officer, who created the materials along wth a group of young volunteers, said: “Wallace High School is a brilliant example of how much it benefits young people when mental health is openly talked about.
“The pupils feel supported and able to speak about this vital subject and it shows how we can change attitudes around mental health if we educate on this early.”