Arklow Youth Mental Health Week 2011 Report

Following the huge success of the First Arklow Youth Mental Health Week last year, the second annual event took place during the week October 17^th to October 21^st next. To celebrate World Mental Health Week, the theme for 2011 was Building Resilience.  The week was officially opened by Ms. Kathleen Lynch, Minister for Mental Health and Disability. The opening ceremony also provided a forum for each secondary school to make a presentation on Building Resilience. Each school made an excellent presentation.  The keynote speaker will be Dr. Tony Bates, Headstrong.

Plans and scheduling for this exciting  local initiative were again achieved through the collaboration, hard work and dedication of a committee established last year in association with; HSE Arklow Primary Care Clinical Psychology Team, Arklow Local Education Committee, East Wicklow Youth Service,  Arklow Mental Health Association, Arklow Community Policing Unit, Mental Health Ireland, Arklow Community Development Project, Arklow Youth Strategy Group and County Wicklow Partnership.

Arklow Youth Mental Health Week provided a broad and varied schedule of events primarily aimed at young people aged 12-18 years attending the five secondary schools in the town.  The week featured a series of school based workshops on topics from Eating Disorders, Suicide, Managing Bullying and Study Skills to Drama and Theatre, Physical Activity, Positive Psychology, Art and Music. A number of additional events were also organised by the Arklow Adult Mental Health Services and Arklow Youth Services during the week.

Arus Lorcain housed the final Positive Mental Health Showcase event on Friday October 21^st, with a large display of stands and information from local and national groups. Presentations were given throughout the morning from Teen Between, Mental HealthIreland, The Guardian Project and HSE Dietician Services.

The finale of the weeklong event culminated in ‘The Big Sing’ where nearly 1000 students featuring choirs and groups from local primary and secondary schools performed together, to give the message that music and singing is good for your mental health.

The release of doves in the grounds for positive mental health closed the second and even more successful Arklow Youth Mental Health Week.

Arklow Youth Mental Health Week 2011 Evaluation Conclusions:

• All students were given the opportunity to complete an evaluation sheet following each event. All presenters will be informed regarding nature of feedback.
• The second Arklow Youth Mental Health Week was a huge success. It is planned to continue this annual event. The Big Sing Event has been recorded on DVD and will be circulated to all schools. Recordings of all School Presentations on Building Resilience have been requested by Mental Health Ireland to be displayed on their website.
• Arklow Youth Mental Health Week 2012 will follow same plan with individual school based events for each year group.
• The Big Sing will become a day event, with separate Primary and Post Primary SchoolEvents.
• It is proposed to develop an Arklow Youth website in collaboration with The Vault andEast Wicklow Youth Service as part of Arklow Youth Mental Health Week 2012.