A group of North West Regional College (NWRC) students who are currently on a 12 week programme aimed at boosting the employability skills of young people, have launched a new initiative encouraging people to talk about their mental health.
Walk & Talk has been devised as a community project by the students on the Princes Trust Team Programme at the college’s Limavady campus.
The students have teamed up with local charity ‘Limavady Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide’ (LIPS) and are encouraging everyone to join them from November 1-7 to talk about mental health.
Denis McLaughlin, Team Leader of the Programme, said the students have worked hard to tackle an issue that affects so many young people today.
He added: “Walk & Talk came about after the young people on the Prince’s Trust Team programme decided to raise awareness around mental health by encouraging people to talk more about their own.
“The students collaborated with local charity LIPS who highlighted the importance of encouraging people to talk more as Limavady has one of the highest rates of suicide in the UK.
“We invite you to join us with ‘Walk & Talk,’ to take the opportunity to support each other: loved ones, friends, colleagues, teammates, neighbours, classmates, support groups, youth groups and social groups or whoever you feel comfortable with, pick a day and time within the event week 1st-7th November that works best for you, wrap up, and walk & talk. Maybe you could make your ‘Walk & Talk’ a weekly thing?”
The team are working with fellow students at the college studying media, to create video content which will be shared on social media ahead of Walk and Talk week. They will also be distributing flyers in the local area to encourage as many people as possible to take part.
Denis McLaughlin continued: “I’d like to congratulate the young people for their commitment to this programme which I know will be extremely successful. The work the students have put in has been extremely beneficial for each and every one of them. As well as the skills they learned and got to practise, they also experienced a great sense of working in the community.
“This course helps young people, not currently in work or education, to build on personal development, learn new skills and boost their confidence. The last year has been difficult for everyone and we hope that our Walk & Talk week will support local people of all ages.”
For more information on Walk and Talk please visit the team’s facebook page www.facebook.com/teamnwrc, LIPS at https://www.facebook.com/LipsLimavadyInitiativeforthePreventionofSuicide OR contact Denis McLaughlin (Team Leader, Limavady campus) on 07527 389281 or email denis.mclaughlin@nwrc.ac.uk
This course helps young people, not currently in work or education, to build on personal development, learn new skills and boost their confidence. The last year has been difficult for everyone and we hope that our Walk & Talk week will support local people of all ages
Denis McLaughlinTeam Leader
