‘Connected Minds’ with Include Youth

On Thursday 9th October, over 120 youth work practitioners from communities across Northern Ireland came together for ‘Connected Minds’, a Shared Learning event with a focus on mental health to mark World Mental Health Day.

The event was held at the Shankhill Shared Women’s Centre in Belfast, and was rooted in the voices and lived experiences of young people across Northern Ireland. It aimed to equip youth practitioners with the tools, knowledge, and understanding needed to better support the mental health and wellbeing of the young people they work with every day.

The need for this work could not be clearer. In 2023, a staggering 45.2% of 16-year-olds in Northern Ireland met the criteria for probable mental ill health, with rates rising to 52.9% among girls and 32.8% among boys (Mental Health Champion)¹. In the same year, 221 suicide deaths were registered across the region (NISRA)², reflecting the devastating toll of poor mental health on individuals, families, and communities.

The event addressed a number of findings from our recent Scoping Reports published by Co-Operation Ireland, which identified four key issues currently affecting young people’s mental health across Northern Ireland:

• The unique challenges faced by young people seeking asylum
• Growing anxiety and social isolation among youth
• The importance of promoting progressive masculinity and ending violence against women
• The connection between physical health and mental wellbeing

The morning featured keynote speakers and a compelling expert panel, including Professor Siobhán O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s Mental Health Champion. Speaking on the day, Professor O’Neill said:

“As Mental Health Champion, and a member of the Our Generation team, I am delighted to support today’s event. With growing proportions of young people suffering from poor mental health, today’s event is more important than ever. The event highlights what can be achieved when the lived experiences of young people are centred, and how creative solutions can emerge when groups come together.”

In the afternoon, participants took part in several practical workshops designed to deepen understanding of the four themes and offer practical tools to inform practice.

The event provided a space where learning was shared, relationships were built, and a collective commitment to young people’s mental health was strengthened. With representation from both urban and rural areas, and from organisations working across community, voluntary and statutory sectors, the event reflected the diversity and resilience of youth support services in Northern Ireland.

¹Mental Health Champion survey finds wellbeing in young people at its lowest ever, nearly half meeting the criteria for mental ill-health. | Mental Health Champion Northern Ireland

² Northern Ireland Suicide Statistics, 2023 | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency