Our mental health is extremely important, but it’s fragile and we often neglect it. Mental health problems are present in over 90% of suicide victims and they will affect one in four of us at some point in our lifetime. Ciaran Austin from 1Life agrees that the motivation to prevent suicide is non-existent at government level.

“[Suicide prevention] has always been the Cinderella of the mental health services.” He says the government strategy for mental health reform, ‘A Vision for Change’ is a utopian document that “strives to have all the services working together,” but its progress over the past five years has been non-existent.

Students can be at risk of mental health problems as they can fall victim to bullying and discrimination, while the stress and pressure of college can fall heavy on all of us at some stage. “There is an increased risk where other factors are present,” says Sandra Hogan of Aware Ireland. “It‘s important for young people…to be mindful of the extra pressures they face,” she says. Not to mention our higher than average social and drinking lifestyle and lack of sleep can often give depression a perfect breeding ground. “Research shows us that…75% of mental health problems begin by age 24,” says Fenella Murphy from Reach Out. 

Luckily, there are many services out there for young people suffering with mental health problems, especially students. “Most colleges in Ireland have specific mental health and welfare services for their students,” says Ms Murphy. She says ReachOut.com is an online service, which helps young people get through the tough times. It also provides information about other services that can help people with mental health problems such as Samaritans, BeLonGTo, Bodywhys and Aware. “[It’s] dedicated to taking the mystery out of mental health,” she says. The Aware loCall helpline and email support service is there for individuals going through depression and for people who are concerned about a loved one.

Of course, there are ways we can all look after ourselves too. “Eating well and doing regular exercise are hugely important, as is getting the right amount of sleep and taking time out for relaxing activities,” says Ms Murphy from Reach Out. However, she does believe that sometimes, young people might be left with no alternative than to seek help. “The service exist because people need them,” she says. “While some mental health problems can be prevented, not all of them can.”

She says it’s about getting to the services as early as possible because, sadly, suicide claims lives when it could have been easily avoided. Ms Hogan from Aware also stresses the importance for students to avoid binge drinking. “The human brain isn‘t fully formed until 25 so alcohol…can have a significant negative impact on the person’s brain and their mood,” she says.

Talking about your problems can be incredibly difficult, especially when you feel down or anxious. But Ms Murphy emphasises the importance of talking to someone if you feel low. “Talking can help a person not to feel so alone in what they‘re going through,” she says. “If you don‘t talk to anyone, then it‘s possible that no one will know what you‘re going through and it‘s going to be hard to get help.” She says talking to someone distant from the situation like a GP or college health centre rather than a close friend or family member can be a good place to start.

Ms Hogan of Aware also advises sending an email to services like Aware if talking over the phone seems too much. She says, “Sometimes writing down how we feel is a bit easier, especially if we are worried that we might get upset if we try to talk to someone.”

In addition to services like 1Life, Reach Out and Aware, students can also call Niteline on 1800 793 793 for a confidential chat with other students. It’s completely anonymous and the volunteers are there to listen to your problem no matter how big or small. “Don‘t try to deal with it on your own,” says Ms Hogan of Aware. “Let today be the day that you take the first step towards recovery.”