Heads up for youth suicide prevention
Does climbing 17,373 feet over five mountains across Ireland and the UK in just three days this year sound appealing to you? Headsup is making its final call to all Meath trekkers to sign up for the adventure of a lifetime — the HeadsUp Five Peaks Challenge. Participants will climb the five highest peaks in Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales on one bank holiday weekend, while at the same time raising money for HeadsUp, Rehab’s youth suicide prevention project.There will be two events this year, 1-5 May and 31 July-5 August. The challenge in August will run over five days to facilitate people who would like to take a more moderate pace with overnight accommodation in each location. Time to sign up is running out as registration closes on 28 February!
The adventure will begin in Kerry with participants climbing Carrauntoohil before travelling north to scale Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland. Ben Nevis in Scotland and Scafell Pike in England will also be conquered before the final challenge of Mount Snowdon in Wales. A full training plan is provided including organised training days and a reasonable level of fitness and endurance is required. Each person is asked to raise €1,875 and advice and support on fundraising will be given. A deposit of €150 is required to secure a place. Places are limited to 25 per trip, so grab your place today by phoning Kerry on 01 2100 521 or by logging on to www.rehabfundraising.ie
Collette Ryan, from HeadsUp, says, “We have a great bunch of people signed up already and we would really love to have a few more adventurers on board! I did the HeadsUp Five Peaks Challenge myself two years ago and it was definitely one of the biggest achievements in my life! It’s a fantastic adventure that pushes both your mind and body to the limit but, in return, offers a real sense of achievement and the prospect of making some lifelong friends. Funds raised go to HeadsUp, which uses a positive mental health approach to help prevent youth suicides by intervening with 15-24 year olds before they reach a point of crisis. The focus of HeadsUp is to support people in understanding mental health, realise their own abilities and have the resilience to cope with life’s tough times. So, not only do those who take up the HeadsUp Five Peaks Challenge get the physical and mental health benefits themselves, they are helping others too!”
ENDS
For more information contact: Róisín Fitzgerald, 01 205 7268 / 086 810 1291
About HeadsUp
It is estimated that one in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. HeadsUp works to help prevent youth suicides using a mental health promotion approach by intervening with the target group of 15-24 year olds before they reach a point of crisis.
HeadsUp encompasses a number of initiatives: HeadsUp Text where by texting HEADSUP to 50424 people can receive details of helplines and support services free of charge; HeadsUp Web where people can access a range of cutting-edge mental health information supports, including well-being tips and cognitive behavioural therapy-based courses; Raising Boys for Fathers, a parenting course to enhance dads’ communications skills with their sons; Lifeskills, a resilience and confidence building course;and the ASIST, Safe TALK and Suicide TALK suicide prevention training courses which support people in identifying those at risk of suicide and making the right interventions. For more information, see www.headsup.ie