On Saturday, 16th April, All-Ireland Camogie Champion Ashling Thompson will be taking on a challenge to support the mental health of young people across Ireland.
Ashling will leave her civilian attire, to reveal her Headstrong Hero costume. Along with a group of fellow brave heroes, she will take on the challenge of a lifetime. Ashling and her band of heroes will abseil off the top of Croke Park’s Hogan Stand to raise awareness and money for Headstrong’s work supporting the mental health of Ireland’s young people.
One in three young people report feelings of depression and anxiety …
Ashling Thompson, who is a Headstrong Ambassador, said: “With almost one in three young people being affected by feelings of depression and anxiety, good mental health for our young people is not a luxury, it’s absolutely essential.
“The Headstrong Hero Abseil is a great event, raising both money and awareness of the work that Headstrong do to support the mental health of young people across Ireland.”
“The Headstrong Hero Abseil is a great event, raising both money and awareness of the work that Headstrong do to support the mental health of young people across Ireland. Headstrong work closely with young people and their communities to really understand how they feel and what they need to support them, they provide workshops and training to help in supporting our young people and their Jigsaw Service offers a space that young people can visit to feel better and get back on track.”
The Charity Abseil has a target of raising more than €25,000 for Headstrong. The money will help Headstrong in changing how all of us in Ireland think about and respond to youth mental health, helping to support:
- Research that helps to increase our understanding of the challenges that young people face and improve youth mental health services across Ireland.
- Engagement with local communities through a programme of workshops and training to change the conversations about mental health from one of stigma and mental illness to one of openness and resilience.
- Through the Jigsaw Service, Headstrong provides a place that young people can go to for free, confidential, brief mental health supports. There are Jigsaw Services currently located in ten communities from Donegal, Galway, Roscommon, Offaly, Kerry and North Fingal to Tallaght, Clondalkin, Dublin 15 and Meath.
Will you be a Headstrong Hero?
There is still time to register and take part in the Headstrong Hero Abseil on Saturday,16th April at Croke Park. You will need to pay a deposit of €50 to secure a place, and raise a minimum of €300 for Headstrong and Jigsaw.
Visit headstrong.ie/abseil or contact the Headstrong team on 01-4727054 for more details.
