Mullingar student is mental health leader
Joshua Deegan (16) from Mullingar has been selected as a Cycle Against Suicide student leader.
The Coláiste Mhuire student applied to the board of Cycle Against Suicide, and on the back of a nomination from his school, was one of 15 people selected from hundreds of applicants to spread the message that ‘It’s OK not to feel OK; and it’s absolutely OK to ask for help’.
Joshua said: “I’m a big advocate for positive mental health. The topic of suicide is close to my heart since I lost my uncle and now I make it my mission to advocate on mental health, and men’s mental health in particular because men are not very good at talking about this kind of stuff.”
As part of his nomination as ambassador for Westmeath and the midlands, Joshua who is also involved in Youth Work Ireland, participated in the annual Cycle Against Suicide Student Leader Ambassadors Retreat, in Kippure Estate in County Wicklow in early August.
Now in its fifth year, the aim of the programme is to harness the leadership potential of young adults, and empower them to bring the Cycle Against Suicide message back to their schools and communities.
“During the retreat I got to meet the other 15 ambassadors who are from all over Ireland. We took part in workshops, including outdoor pursuits, team building, media and presentation skills, as well as leadership training.
“I also got to choose a team of people that I will work with in the year ahead about spreading this message. It was a great weekend and I really enjoyed meeting the other ambassadors, we learned so much from it,” said Joshua.
Joshua along with the other student leaders will participate in all Cycle Against Suicide activities throughout the year, including the upcoming cycle next year, as well as working together with their individual groups to develop a theme for this year’s Student Leaders’ Congress, which will take place in Dublin in January 2019.
Link Teacher Eugene Coyle of Coláiste Mhuire said: “It is a huge honour for Coláiste Mhuire to have a student selected for such a prestigious and worthwhile programme at a national level. We are immensely proud of Joshua’s achievement.”