Emergency contact cards issued to all secondary school students
CRISIS Colourful and portable cards with vital numbers for young people to access if and when needed
Potentially life-saving emergency contact cards will soon be distributed to all 22 secondary schools in Meath.
YouthQuake Meath, a member group of Youth Work Ireland Meath has developed a emergency contacts card which will be distributed to all secondary schools in the county.
Meath YouthQuake consists of young people working on issues facing the youth of county Meath and trying to develop ways of creating change for the younger generation.
“The last couple of years have been especially hard for everyone and young people have not gone unaffected. Now more than ever young people are at risk of suffering from issues of mental health,” says Niamh Cox, Meath YouthQuake member.
“As members of Meath YouthQuake, we noticed that contact details for youth organisations and other services were not only outdated but some were no longer in operation.
"It’s important for young people to be able to get the required help in times of need. These contact cards are colourful and easily portable as they can be used as a bookmark or folded up and stored neatly in your wallet or pencil case.”
The initiative was made possible by the Community Mental Health Fund and is supported by the Department of Health and Meath County Council to aid young people's mental wellbeing across the county.
"Meath YouthQuake were determined that something needed to be done for young people at a time of crisis.
“These easily portable cards put important contacts into the journals or pockets of all Meath secondary school students to use, if and when they need them" said Youth Worker, Peter Mulligan.
"There's no better way to get information to young people than through young people.
“As with technology, information changes on a daily basis and Meath YouthQuake has reacted to those changes by designing and producing these very helpful information cards" Regional Director Geraldine Hogarty commented on the initiative.
Youth Work Ireland Meath will be distributing these cards on behalf of Meath YouthQuake to all secondary schools in County Meath before the start of the school year.
“We are asking school principals to ensure that they are placed in students' journals so that every student will receive one.”
Youth Work Ireland Meath was established in 1989 and has a network of affiliated youth clubs across the county along with a network of community youth programmes. It supports the development of youth clubs and programmes across County Meath and provides training for young people and volunteers.