Maintaining a healthy body is vital to our general wellbeing and is reasonably straightforward once you follow the necessary dos and don'ts - mental health is more complex, but no less important.
A weighty subject, it's something that many of us shy away from. One organisation not taking this option is Nagle Rice Secondary School in Doneraile whose effort in raising awareness of mental health have been rewarded with the awarding of an Amber Flag. Most of the credit goes to the school's transition year class, who fulfilled the necessary criteria to win the flag. Assisted by teachers, Karen O'Keeffe and Brian Coleman, the class set up their own mini company. Adopting mental health as a theme, they linked up with Martina Ryan and members of Cork Mental Health Foundation and they set about creating a notice board, complete with a variety of important helpline numbers and useful contacts.
The contribution of the students was formally recognised on Wednesday, 1st October when the Amber Flag was raised on the school grounds. Special guest was Conor Cusack, whose has been very open about battling his own mental health demons.
In an insightful address to students, Conor explained the debilitating nature of the illness, its impact on individuals and the trauma following in its wake. Conor's core message was that people shouldn't suffer in silence and that a range of supports existed for those who are feeling low, depressed or unhappy. Conceding, that it could be difficult to reach out, Conor said that talking to someone you trusted was the first step to recovery.
Regarding his own journey through a world of darkness, Conor acknowledged the help of family and close friends. He encouraged his audience to be alert to fellow students who might be acting out of character and never turn their backs on those who were struggling.
Principal, Brid Lysaght said she was very impressed by Conor's openness and honesty and she thanked him sincerely for taking the time to lend his support to the school's Amber Flag project.

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