18 January 2008

St Patrick’s Academy in ‘Open Your Mind’ Final

St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon has scooped top prize in the final of the ‘Open Your Mind’ public speaking competition which promotes mental health awareness among young people.

Having won the Armagh and Dungannon heat of the competition in October, the St Patrick’s team went through to the final for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area.

The St Patrick’s team gave a 16 minute presentation on their chosen topic; why people find it difficult to talk about mental and emotional problems. Members of the winning team were, Lisa Ross, Fergal McCamey, Niamh Marley and Eithan Girvan supported by their teacher Mrs Lisa O’Neill.

The ‘Open Your Mind’ competition is open to all post primary schools across the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area and targets year 11 pupils, aged 14 to 15 years old.

Deirdre McParland, Senior Mental Health Promotion Officer for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust says: “Open Your Mind aims to foster a greater awareness and understanding of mental health issues amongst young people. We believe there is no better means of achieving this than through the voices of young people themselves.”

The competition was funded by the Southern Health and Social Services Board and organised by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in partnership with Action Mental Health, MensSana.