NICCY wants young people to send ‘Message to Minister ‘

YOUNG people can tell the Minister for Health what needs to be done to help end the tragedy of suicide and self-harm in Northern Ireland
 
The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Nigel Williams, launched his ‘Message to the Minister’ campaign on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services at an event in NICCY’s Belfast offices.
 
The campaign will allow young people to post their messages on the NICCY website (www.niccy.org), which will be collected and passed to Mr Shaun Woodward MP, Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

To go directly to the “Message to the Minister” to input your opinion go to www.niccy.org/suicide/.

Mr Williams ‘Message to the Minister’ campaign will run for 6 weeks from Thursday 8^th September to Thursday 20^th October 2005.

Mr Williams said he was very keen that the voice of Northern Ireland’s young people was heard in the debate about how to reduce the toll of suicide and self-harm on young lives.

“Since I took up office I have been horrified that young people’s mental health needs have not been met,” he said.
 
“I have been horrified that so many young people take their own lives.
 
“I have been horrified that so many of Northern Ireland’s young people harm themselves.
 
“I believe that young people must now be able tell the minister of health what they want to change.”
 
“I am grateful that Mr Woodward has a Task Force working to try and find ways to reduce suicide, and I know that Professor Bamford’s Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability is concluding in December,” said the Commissioner.
 
“I believe that both the Task Force and the review should have the views of young people available to them.”

‘Reason to Live’ Exhibition

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People is also hosting an exhibition of young people’s art on suicide and self-harm at his Belfast offices at the end of October.  They are encouraging young people to send them artwork they have created to express their thoughts and feelings around the issue of suicide and self-harm.

The theme of the exhibition is ‘Reasons to Live’.

The artwork can be anything young people have made, designed or wrote to deal with their concerns, hopes and fears.

It could be a poem, a poster, painting or perhaps a sculpture, song, or short film - even photographs of a mural young people have designed within their community.

NICCY would like to receive artwork submissions by Monday 10th October.

If you, your school or youth group would like to produce artwork for the exhibition please register your interest in the form below.

Please contact Sharon Curran on 028 90 316396 to discuss your ideas and the best way to receive artwork when complete.

You can register online at http://www.niccy.org/suicide/exhibition.aspx

For further information on the work of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People go to www.niccy.org.

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