People of my time had to shut up and suffer with their mental health, don’t do the same, says Mary McAleese

MARY McAleese urged young people to seek help if they were struggling with mental health, saying when she was younger people had to suffer in silence.

The former president said that today’s children have a lot on their hands and often feel like they are the only ones suffering.

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“Young people are preoccupied with this issue because every person has not experienced grief, grief, anxiety, stress, worry and concern to some degree.

“And it throws all the problems life can throw at kids. They can come from families with abuse, unemployment and money worries, especially these days.

“And predators of all kinds, from the easy gambling industry to alcohol and drugs, are after them.

“Climate change, the war in Ukraine – all this compresses the living space and very often closes the opportunities for relaxation, pleasure and enjoyment in life.

“So the most important message that we try to convey to them is that kind of stress, the mundane stuff that everyone goes through in their lifetime.

“But especially during puberty when they are heightened by all the physical changes that are taking place.”

Mary was speaking to the Irish Sun from Croke Park yesterday. There she gave a keynote speech in front of hundreds of middle school students at her assembly at One Good School.

Hosted by the youth mental health charity Jigsaw, the event marked the completion of the first year of a two-year wellness program in 146 schools in 12 Irish counties.

And she told us the emphasis is on highlighting that help is out there for those who need it.

she said: Teachers are now skilled in counseling and mentoring.

“My thoughts so far have been to suffer in silence, to sit in a classroom with no clue what’s going on in the lives of those around me.

“And they didn’t know about you. And we didn’t share. was intended to

time to take care of your heart

She said many young people in Ireland are aware of what they need to do to stay physically fit, but they don’t understand the importance of mental strength.

She added:

“Between diet, exercise, the gym and a beautiful body. It’s the realization that the mind really matters.”

Mary’s son Justin was gay and was bullied at school. The LGBTQ+ community is three times more likely than her to consider depression and suicide while in school, she said.

And she said more needs to be done for students who feel this way, not just from school, but from everyone around them.

she said: We want to welcome and help you be who you are and live your life in the light, not the dark. “

She added:

“It is designed to ensure this whole-person, whole-community approach from the outset by investing in it and investing in the skills of our youth, families, teachers, communities, governments and those surrounding our schools. Our young people realize that mental health is their own responsibility, but it is the responsibility of others to help them grow to make good choices in life.

For more information, to donate to Jigsaw or to ask for help, please visit: jigsaw puzzle.

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