Ladies and Gentlemen,
Ensuring the mental health and wellbeing of our young people is one of the
greatest challenges we face.
It is an honour to be invited to formally open and address this important
gathering which will bring a focus on how we can all work together to meet
that challenge.
This gathering is timely not just because of the 10-year milestone reached
by our hosts at Jigsaw, but also to look again at the national mental
health strategy ‘A Vision for Change’ which is also 10-years-old.
I am particularly delighted to be sharing the platform here today with the
former Principal of Columbine High School, Frank DeAngelis, and look
forward to the insights, experience and knowledge that he will share with
us.
Our goal must be to ensure that no child in this country will live in dread
of going to school.
At the outset let me welcome the theme of this conference ‘Creating a
Listening School’.
Firstly we must be clear what we mean by a ‘Listening’ School.
A ‘Listening’ school is one where students and staff recognise they are
part of the same community; where they work together to build a culture
that supports mental health and wellbeing; a culture that not only empowers
individuals to form a solid foundation in mental well-being but also to
share this knowledge with their peers.
As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs it is a priority of mine that
the voices of the young are listened too – my aim is to bring a child’s
lens to every area of Government policy.
I believe this starts in the classroom, the schoolyard and on the sports
field.
Next week I will publish one of the most recent consultations my Department
has conducted with teenagers.
Without giving too much detail let me say some of the findings are stark.
Worries over body image are compounded by social and mainstream media, the
pressure to conform is greater than ever before while exam stress, peer
pressure and bullying are named as barriers to a healthy lifestyle.
By creating the environment where young people are assured that their views
count and will be acted upon we not only create a ‘Listening’ school we
create a caring school.
Those within it help to contribute to a more modern society where open
discussion of mental health is encouraged; the ups and downs of life are
acknowledged; and recovery pathways are forged with the support of all of
the available resources.
A ‘whole-school’ approach like this in turn feeds into a whole community
approach.
The importance of support networks such as health, education, community and
employment is clear.
When the need arises, drawing on these wider networks can access the
required help.
There is within all communities, the scope and flexibility for all to
become involved and reach out to someone in need.
Initiatives like these will leave a legacy in the form of a more inclusive
society, where people are supported through tough times, where people feel
a strong sense of connection to each other- where if one member falls, we
all help them to get back on their feet.
By coming together today I hope we can all commit to working towards
ensuring that every school in this country will be a listening school – it
is a goal which I believe is achievable.
There are models we can follow – passing any Irish school now is like
passing a UN building, with flags from a variety of Government schemes
acknowledging that not only students and teachers but their local community
has excelled in one achievement or another.
Let’s make a declaration of a ‘Listening’ School the next achievement that
our teens, parents and teachers will strive for.
Of course the Government has a role to play too.
We must ensure that when some-one comes forward that supports and services
are in place.
I have already acknowledged that “A Vision for Change” is 10 years old.
The Government is committed to conducting an evidence-based expert review
of progress in its implementation and in the improvement of mental health
services.
The review will take account of international best practice and will inform
the next steps in the development of our mental health policy, having
regard to both human rights and health and wellbeing objectives.
I earnestly hope that your deliberations here today as well as your vast
experience on the ground will feed into that process.
Significant progress on Mental Health has been made in recent years with
around €160m and 1,150 new posts provided since 2012 for Mental Health and
Suicide Prevention initiatives.
The Government has also established a National Taskforce on Youth Mental
Health, the first meeting of which took place earlier this month.
The group is asked to design and provide leadership for changes that get
communities working together at a local level and services working together
at a national level to improve supports for young people, so that every
young person in Ireland is supported to build their own resilience and
emotional wellbeing.
It is a cliché that your school-days should be the best days of your life –
but is this true for all children growing up in the Ireland of today?
The honest answer is unfortunately no.
As I said at the outset it is only be working together towards the goal of
‘Listening’ Schools that we can change the answer to that question.
Today with the experience of Jigsaw, the HSE, the National Educational
Psychological Services, the National Association for Principals and Deputy
Principals, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment supported
with the voices of our children we take a big step towards that goal.
You will do so with the support of Government - and with the guidance of
Frank.
I would again like to thank everyone in attendance today for your
dedication and tireless work in supporting young people. I would like to
wish you continued success with your future endeavours.