Mags GarganMags Gargan speaks to the people behind the Amber Flag programme, which promotes positive mental health for young people
"If we can prevent people from going to that lonely place where they might consider suicide, then it will be a success,” says Patrica Behan, one of the directors of Suicide Aware on her hope for the Amber Flag awards.
This initiative aims to encourage schools, colleges, sports clubs and any societies or organisations working with young people to promote and actively bring about a culture change in attitudes towards positive mental health.
The project was inspired by the green schools model where primary and secondary schools complete a series of stages to achieve a green flag as part of an environmental education programme.
The Amber Flag project was created by the charity Suicide Aware, in partnership with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and the Union of Students of Ireland (USI). Suicide Aware is a Cork-based voluntary organisation founded in 2009 to offer education, support and counselling services for people dealing with depression and suicide.
Similar situation
“A few of us were in a similar situation where a member of the family took their own life and we found that there was nowhere to turn. So we set up a charity for people in crisis, to support those who lost someone to suicide and to create positive mental health awareness,” Patricia says.
The Amber Flag was first launched last year and was embraced by a number of schools across the country, as well as sports clubs and third level institutions. “We handed out 198 flags last year. We are in all 32 counties in secondary schools, and a few third levels colleges and organisations like Youth Reach in Clare. We had one award ceremony last year, but it has grown so much that this year we will have ceremonies in Belfast, Dublin, Galway and Cork,” Patricia says.
The main goal of Amber Flag is to break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues and to create an environment where it can be discussed openly.
“Illness is something we need help to cure but positive health starts with what we do ourselves. Simple and easy activities can change the health of individuals and communities in a positive way. Being healthy is about physical and mental fitness. It is about habits and activities that become a part of our lives. Building healthy communities is about individuals looking after their own health and working together to encourage others to do the same,” says Dr John Hillery, consultant psychiatrist and advisor to Suicide Aware.
“It can be as simple as remembering to breathe and take time for ourselves to do something we enjoy and that absorbs us, or as complex as organising a community initiative to include marginalised people in everyday community activities. It can be as simple as inviting an acquaintance for a cup of tea or as complex as organising a regular social gathering to promote relationships in our community. It can be as simple as reminding people to take time to say hello or as complex as advocating with politicians to decrease the inequality in our region, or the country as a whole. In between all these are many activities that will improve the mental health of those who organise them, those who engage with them and of the community as a whole.”
To receive an Amber Flag a school or organisation must establish an Amber Flag Project Team comprising of a cross-section of the school community, but the majority must be students. This team prepares an audit of the activities and services in the school that promote an ethos of positive mental health. The team must then identify three goals to enhance the existing educational provision and support structures in the area of mental health promotion in the school.
These should be achievable in the duration of one school year and must include one mental health awareness day. Projects that schools have taken on so far include setting up an Amber Flag noticeboard and newsletter, establishing a mentoring system between 5th years and 1st years, putting on a play on a mental health theme, devising a mental health policy for the school and organising a positive mental health seminar or attending a seminar such as MentaliTY.
MentaliTY is an annual mental health programme organised by Suicide Aware for transition year students, which takes place in the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork on March 19 this year. Speakers include journalist and counsellor, Eamon Keane, former international rugby player, Mick O’Driscoll, world silver race walker, Gillian O’Sullivan and Suicide Aware director, Ian Del.
Once the goals have been achieved the school receives their Amber Flag at a presentation ceremony in their area with a local celebrity, and the flag is then flown outside the school building in a conspicuous place where it will convey the caring ethos of the school and the importance it places on mental health.
“Young people are really embracing the initiative. Overall we have had a marvellous response from every institute that has adopted it, from secondary schools to third level colleges to GAA and rugby clubs,” Patricia says.
Dialogue
“The biggest single statement from last year was ‘it’s ok not to feel ok’. It’s important to have one person in your life who you feel you can talk to if something is worrying you. Everyone needs someone to confide in, to talk about relationships, or when they are feeling down or overweight. It’s about opening up dialogue on mental health.”
Coláiste Chríost Rí in Cork was the first school in Ireland to receive an Amber Flag and Frank Mulvihill, the guidance counsellor and former president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, says that since getting involved in the project more students have come forward for help.
“As a guidance counsellor I have found that more students are accessing services when they are going through a bad patch. They are coming forward to discuss their problems, which is a hugely important first step before they have to access any kind of emergency service,” he says.
Frank says the students drive the whole project in the school. They have attended the MentaliTY seminar, organised speakers to give talks on mental health in the school, ran a poster competition with the Art Department, hosted the Cycle Against Suicide in the school and co-ordinated with the PE Department to have mental health promotion included in the school’s traditional ‘Health Week’.
“The project seems to be going well and Amber Flag has certainly made the students more aware. The flag flying outside says this school cares for people who need support with mental health,” Frank says.
“The lads are more tuned into mental health right now, especially over the last two years because of unfortunate events that have occurred that get a lot of publicity. What we need to look at instead of the negative, is at pre-emptive mechanisms.
“We prefer to focus on positive mental health and how to look after yourself,” he says.
“It is good to be part of an initiative like this and you get great satisfaction in seeing it help people, even if it is just giving them the Suicide Aware card so they can ring the helpline number if they are in difficulty and need someone to talk to.
“It is an issue that we all need to be aware of because it could be me tomorrow morning that is looking for help. Mental health is everybody’s issue.”
Amber Flag Contact Information
Suicide Aware, Hillside House, Rochestown, Cork
Tel: 087-9454202 or email www.suicideaware@gmail.com
See www.amberflag.ie or www.suicideaware.ie