SINN Féin Shantallow Councillor Elisha McCallion has welcomed the initiative taken by Sinn Féin Republican Youth to distribute helpline information to young people attending the MTV concert in Ebrington this weekend.
Councillor Mc Callion said: “The devastating rate of recorded deaths by suicide is shocking.
“It underscores the concerns related to me on a regular basis by those working at the coalface of mental health counselling and intervention services.
“Behind all these statistics are real people, and families who are hurting and lives left shattered.
“It is abundantly clear that we face a crisis in self-harm and death by suicide across the north and we cannot address the causes without listening to people – especially young people.
“That is why I applaud this initiative by Sinn Féin Republican Youth.
“We need to listen to our youth to know what’s going on and while providing them with this type of information it is also essential that we listen to them.
“As part of my ongoing interest in this issue I will continue to engage with our Minister for Health, Michelle O’Neill, mental health and suicide prevention groups and statutory stakeholders on these issues to develop a comprehensive and inclusive strategy on mental health and suicide prevention.”
