Mind your Melon, a free online mental health and wellbeing festival for young people, launched on at the recent Donegal Youth Council AGM.
The online festival aims to promote positive mental health and wellbeing and signposting of key services to young people in the county. Young people are encouraged to visit www.mindyourmelon.ie and explore themed stages on an interactive map of Donegal, with stages at iconic locations around the county.
The online festival features inspiring talks, engaging demonstrations and information about mental health supports and services for young people.
Featured content includes inspirational talks from Nikki Bradley ( Adaptive adventurer and motivational speaker), Jason Black (Global Endurance Athlete – Irish Red Cross Global Ambassador ), Dr Easkey Britton (surfer, scientist, explorer) demonstrations by Ryan McHugh (Donegal GAA Player) and Finn van der Aar (marine scientist, writer and chef), tips and advice on supporting your mental health by Jigsaw Donegal and much more.
Mind your Melon has been created by Donegal mental health charity Connect Mental Health in partnership with Jigsaw Donegal and Foróige. It has been developed ‘For young people, by young people’ – Young people from Donegal Youth Council and Jigsaw’s Youth Advisory Panel have been key to designing and creating the festival and planning the content and themes they wanted to see covered.
Tara Toye, a Donegal Youth Councillor and member of the Jigsaw Donegal YAP mentioned “being involved in this project has been really interesting and I have learned a lot about youth mental health. It is so important that young people are made aware of this new resource that has been made for them to access. I would strongly encourage youth to maximise the use of this support”.
Connect Mental Health Chairperson Ciaran McLoone added, ‘We encourage Donegal people to take ownership of Mind your Melon, share it with your friends, family and young people. Schools can register to participate on www.mindyourmelon.ie and we have tools that schools, sports clubs and youth clubs can use to promote the festival to young people.’
HSE Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention Sean Mc Grory added “I am giving my full support to the innovative Mind Your Melon youth mental health event in 2021. This event is a collaboration between community and statuary partners from Health, Donegal County Council, Youth Service and the Youth Council, Jigsaw, Connect Mental Health and most importantly young people themselves. During COVID young people have faced particular challenges and it is my believe that this welcome event will provide a much needed focus on positive mental health across the county as well as directing young people and their supporters to the appropriate services to meet their needs.”
Mental health is an essential part of a person’s health. Incorporating positive mental health and well-being practices during adolescence helps promote the development of healthy and resilient adults. Mind your Melon is supported by Healthy Donegal through the Healthy Ireland Fund, the HSE and Donegal Local Development Company.
Visit www.mindyourmelon.ie for more information
