National Executive 2014-15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The National Executive 2014-15 were tasking with following up the following recommendation from Dáil na nÓg 2013 which was to host ‘A national gathering for second-level students with music and events to improve attitudes towards mental health‘.  And boy did they achieve their recommendation. They came up with the fantastic campaign ‘Let’s Go Mental: do something for your mental health today’ to make this a reality. Click here to read more: Let’s Go Mental 

What we did: 

We are very proud to have been a part of this campaign. Let’s Go Mental is a nationwide campaign to promote positive mental health in young people. This campaign was developed by teenagers for teenagers and involved a series of 31 events in every local authority area to promote positive mental health through music, sport, the arts and other fun activities. The Let’s Go Mental events were organised and run by the 31 Comhairle na nÓg and took place all over the country from May to November 2015. Over 4600 young people attended the events and we had a fantastically energetic launch on 24th June. To read more click on link here: Let’s Go Mental 

 

The 2014-15 Comhairle na nÓg National Executive were supported and advised in the progression of their recommendation by DCYA and the Participation Team. They also worked closely with their Steering Committee consisting of a number of mental health experts, some of who formed the panel for the Q&A session at Dáil na nÓg 2013. The panel consisted of representatives from ReachOut.com; NOSP, National Office for Suicide Prevention; HSE and Headstrong.

They also worked closely with their  Oireachtas team of link TDs and senators: Aodhán O’Riordáin, TD; Senator Jillian van Turnhout; Senator Kathryn Reilly, Jerry Buttimer, TD; and Senator Averil Power.

National Executive members present to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health & Children: 29th May 2014

In may, four members of the National Executive were invited by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health & Children to present on their work. Speakers were Kayleigh Power, Galway City Comhairle; Cillian Byrne, Meath Comhairle; Becky O’Connell, Waterford City Comhairle and Bertie Nesirky, Tipperary Comhairle. They spoke about what Comhairle na nÓg is and what they, as National Executive members, have been working on since they commenced their term in Jan. 2014. They spoke about the Showcase event coming up in November and invited the Committee to attend on the day. They spoke about the workings of Dáil na nÓg and about their recommendation and work on this to date. They referred to the support of the Steering Committee of mental health experts and of the Oireachtas team, and how they were looking forward to working with them more closely in the future, as they make progress on their mental health gathering. Finally they discussed the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-20). At the end of the presentations, there was a Q&A session with the TDs and senators present. To watch, please click on link below

http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=26320&&CatID=127

The four were also lucky enough to meet with then Minister for Children & Youth Affairs Charlie Flanagan.