Youths Highlight Mental Health Matters

A group of young people from Co Antrim have created a short film to raise awareness of mental health matters among their peers.

Participants at All Saints Youth Club in Ballymena produced 'Ask, Don't Assume,' to highlight the realities of living with mental health difficulties. The group are hoping to encourage young people like themselves to support one another through adolescence.

Watch the film below:



Coordinated by Start 360, the project is one of 27 to have received funding as part of ARTiculate, a three-year £600,000 programme which uses the arts to amplify the voices of young people.

Start360 is continuing to work with several groups in the area. Gerry McVeigh from the organisation said the collaboration with All Saints Youth Club has been "fantastic".

"The young people have made a film which gives a real sense of what it is like to be struggling with mental health issues," he commented.

As part of the programme, Action Mental Health delivered a Mental Health Awareness Workshop with the young people. LJ Youth Media then worked with them to develop and produce the film.

Lindsey Armstrong, Director at LJ Youth Media also paid tribute to the group: "The heart of what we do at LJ is support young people to find their voice and create a short film about a subject that they feel passionate about. The young people at All Saints YC threw themselves into every aspect of our programme and have produced a really meaningful piece of film on mental health issues."

Louisa Reed, Leader in Charge at All Saints Youth Club said added: "The young people wanted to create a piece that could have an impact in their community. After viewing the short film young people felt that this could encourage at least one person to speak out for themselves or for their peers. We will continue to support and promote Mental Health Awareness."

ARTiculate is funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, National Lottery and the Public Health Agency (PHA).



(JG/CM)