Northern Ireland

Carl Frampton urges young people to talk about mental health at launch of suicide awareness video for schools

The launch of a video at St Patrick’s in Lisburn on Wednesday.
The video - called 'Listen up' - was created by four schools - St. Patrick's Academy, Lisnagarvey High School, St. Colm's High School and Malone Integrated College - as part of their priority to focus on children and young people's mental health and in particular suicide prevention.
The video will be used by Education Authority as part of a teacher professional learning resource, which will be offered to all schools, to better equip school staff to deal with a child in a mental health crisis.
PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN
Former Boxing world champion Carl Frampton with participants at the launch of the suicide awareness video at St Patrick’s Academy in Lisburn on Wednesday. PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN

Former professional boxer Carl Frampton has urged young people to talk about their mental health struggles as he helped launch a suicide awareness video for use in schools across Northern Ireland.

The video, ‘Listen Up’, was created by pupils at four schools in Co Antrim and focuses on children and young people’s mental health, in particular suicide prevention.

The initiative by the Education Authority (EA) will see the video used as part of a teacher professional learning resource in a bid to better equip staff to deal with a child in a mental health crisis.

One of the main focuses of the video is to empower parents to act when a child is showing signs of suicidal thoughts or crisis.

It debunks some myths around what is appropriate to say and do and what is not.

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It also provides a valuable guide to recognising the symptoms of a suicidal crisis, as well as specific steps to getting and giving help.

Pupils from St Patrick’s Academy, Malone Integrated College, Lisnagarvey High School and St Colm’s High School took part in the video.

Speaking at the launch event in St Patrick’s in Lisburn on Wednesday, Mr Frampton said: “Mental health is a cause very close to my heart.

The launch of a video at St Patrick’s in Lisburn on Wednesday.
The video - called 'Listen up' - was created by four schools - St. Patrick's Academy, Lisnagarvey High School, St. Colm's High School and Malone Integrated College - as part of their priority to focus on children and young people's mental health and in particular suicide prevention.
The video will be used by Education Authority as part of a teacher professional learning resource, which will be offered to all schools, to better equip school staff to deal with a child in a mental health crisis.
PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN
Carl Frampton at the launch of the video, 'Listen up', which will be used by Education Authority as part of a teacher professional learning resource. PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN

“I think it is wonderful the students in these schools have worked together to create this impactful video, which will help young people across Northern Ireland.

“This video will raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention and encourage more open discussion and understanding of these issues.”



Barry Mulholland from the EA said they were “delighted to support the use of this video, through our pupil wellbeing services”.

“This will provide a professional training and development tool to support schools in dealing with this complex issue and more widely to raise awareness with parents and carers,” he said.

Eve Bremner, chief executive of Council of Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), added: “Suicide is an issue that affects so many families and I hope the advice and support in this video will ultimately help to reduce harm and save lives.

“I congratulate the students for collaborating on such an important topic and look forward to this important resource being made available to all schools.”

The launch of a video at St Patrick’s in Lisburn on Wednesday.
The video - called 'Listen up' - was created by four schools - St. Patrick's Academy, Lisnagarvey High School, St. Colm's High School and Malone Integrated College - as part of their priority to focus on children and young people's mental health and in particular suicide prevention.
The video will be used by Education Authority as part of a teacher professional learning resource, which will be offered to all schools, to better equip school staff to deal with a child in a mental health crisis.
PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN
The launch of the suicide awareness video at St Patrick’s Acaedmy in Lisburn on Wednesday. PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN

The project was funded by Choice Housing and was produced by ALPs Suicide Prevention Charity.