The importance of positive mental health is the theme of the upcoming series of Teen Talk events organised and coordinated by Cork County Council and funded by Healthy Ireland through the Council’s Local Community Development Committees. The successful series, which includes separate events for transition year students and their parents, will take place online later this month.
The Teen Talk event will be streamed directly to schools on November 18th, with the GenZ event for parents being streamed on November 23rd. Host Anna Geary will lead a series of discussions on the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of young people. Topics such as mindfulness, teen psychology, resilience, sports participation, nutrition and addiction will be discussed. In previous years, Teen Talk was held in person at locations across County Cork. However, the transition to a single event online has resulted in what’s expected to be the largest ever attendance.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan, highlighted how “It’s tough being a teenager. It can be an emotional time under the best of circumstances. Add in the disappointment, uncertainty and disruption of the Coronavirus Pandemic we are seeing our teens struggle at a much steeper level than usual. So it’s never been a more critical time for us to engage and stay connected as our young people navigate this difficult time. Events such as Teen Talks and GenZ will be a valuable resource to both teens and parents.”
Amongst the other speakers at the upcoming events are;
Anna Geary, MC, Broadcaster & Performance & Lifestyle Coach
Maureen Gaffney, Psychologist
Pat Divilly, Mindfulness & Mindset Coach
Rory O’Connor, Comedian & experience in Gambling Addiction
Ray Goggins, Creator & Sergeant of RTE’s Hell Week – Leadership & Resilience Trainer
Orlaith Farmer, Cork Footballer & advocate for Women in Sport
Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey added:
Young people across Cork County have shown incredible solidarity during the COVID19 pandemic. They have stayed physically distanced from their friends and family members to ensure the most vulnerable members of our society remain safe. Cork County Council is delighted to be part of these events, which keep teens and their parents connected. Many challenges lie ahead, but the priority now is supporting young people as they find their own way through these difficult times.
The GenZ event, for which parents are invited to register, will discuss issues including teen psychology, leadership, LGBTQI+ and mental health.
Niall O’Callaghan, Cork County Council’s Healthy Ireland Coordinator, says:
The impact of the Teen Talk initiative has been hugely positive, with transition year students learning of the importance of speaking out when they face challenges. However, we realise that parents can sometimes struggle for the same reasons as their teenagers to communicate on various topics effectively. The evening event will help provide parents and teachers with the tools they need to explore any complicated issues that arise with teenagers. Knowledge is key to effective communication, and our list of speakers will address the most pressing issues facing GenZ.
The initiative is part of the Healthy Ireland Initiative by Cork County Council’s three Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs). LCDCs comprises public and private partners who promote and support economic, local and community development through greater integration in the planning and delivery of local and community development services and interventions.
Parents can access the GenZ talk for free by registering at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/gen-z-2021-cork-county-council-healthy-ireland-tickets-199399869377
Help support Cork Safety Alerts by becoming a member – Click Here