On Thursday 9th October, Over 120 youth work practitioners from communities across Northern Ireland came together for Connected Minds Shared Learning event with a focus on mental health learning to mark World Mental Health Day. The event organised by Include Youth is part of the Our Generation project, supported by PEACEPLUS and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
The need of this work could not be clearer. In 2023, a staggering 45.2% of 16-year-olds in Northern Ireland met the criteria for probable mental ill health, with rates rising to 52.9% among girls and 32.8% among boys. (Mental Health Champion) In the same year, 221 suicide deaths were registered across the region (NISRA), reflecting the devastating toll of poor mental health on individuals, families, and communities.
The event was rooted in the voices and lived experiences of young people across Northern Ireland. It aimed to equip youth practitioners with the tools, knowledge, and understanding needed to better support the mental health and wellbeing of the young people they work with every day. The day was shaped by findings from a scoping exercise carried out by Co-Operation Ireland, one of Our Generation’s delivery partners, which identified four key issues currently affecting young people’s mental health across Northern Ireland:
The morning featured keynote speakers and a compelling expert panel, including Professor Siobhán O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s Mental Health Champion.
“As Mental Health Champion, and a member of the Our Generation team, I am delighted to support today’s event. With growing proportions of young people suffering from poor mental health, today’s event is more important than ever. The event highlights what can be achieved when the lived experiences of young people are centred, and how creative solutions can emerge when groups come together.”
In the afternoon, participants took part in several practical workshops designed to deepen understanding of the four themes and offer practical tools to inform practice.
The day was a space where learning is shared, relationships are built, and a collective commitment was made to young people’s mental health was strengthened. With representation from both urban and rural areas, and from organisations working across community, voluntary and statutory sectors, the event reflected the diversity and resilience of youth support services in Northern Ireland.
There was a clear sense of shared purpose in the room: to listen to young people, act on what we’ve learned, and keep mental health at the centre of how we care for, educate, and empower the next generation.
“ When asked about mental health, one our young people stated ‘I think a lot of young people and children sometimes think that they can manage these things in their own and often don’t reach out for help. Because there’s a lot of stigma around it or there’s a long waiting times.’ The mental health of our young people is one of the most urgent issues we face in Northern Ireland today. Events like this are crucial because they bring together practitioners to share learning, build skills, help break stigma, and strengthen the support systems that so many young people rely on.”
