Public speakingTeams from St Columba's College, Glenties, Co Donegal, Castleknock Community College, Dublin and Gort Community School, Co Galway, will compete in the final of the 24th annual Mental Health Ireland National Public Speaking Project, in the Edmund Burke Theatre, Trinity College, Dublin on Saturday evening.
Mental Health Ireland (MHI), the largest voluntary organisation in the country promoting positive mental health, provides advocacy and care services through 95 voluntary local mental health associations throughout Ireland.
The public speaking project is a central part of MHI's effort to inform and encourage young people about the benefits of positive mental health attitudes, at a time when mental health issues are confronting young people more than ever before, often with serious consequences.
MHI chief executive Brian Howard said preparing for and participating in this nationwide event encouraged the speakers and supporting colleagues to jointly research mental health-related topics in a collaborative and entertaining manner.
This approach helped to remove old myths which may linger about mental health issues and focused attention on positive approaches to mental health, he said.
"Taking part in the project helps young people to develop self-confidence and the ability of self-expression, in themselves powerful antidotes to a lack of communication which often lies at the heart of some of the coping difficulties which impact on mental wellbeing," he said.
Students taking part and their classmates are required to research a range of topics set down by MHI. The topics are designed to create awareness of the causes and effects of mental illness and the importance of promoting positive mental health. Local and regional events are held to determine the three teams going forward to the national event.
More than 250 post-primary schools and colleges took part this year. Between speakers, substitutes and classmates who assist with research, over 1,200 students were involved.
The three teams in the final will speak on the same topic - The cushion of consumerism is no substitute for the comfort of community - a theme taken from President Mary McAleese's inaugural address in 2004.