Dr. Gillian O'Brien:

We were asked a really important question, namely what we think is leading so many young people in Ireland to take their own lives. There are as many hypotheses potentially as there are answers. It is very difficult to know but one thing I always come back to in all of the young people I have worked with in terms of what underlies their sense of mental health is being able to develop a sense of belonging, knowing where they fit, having a sense of purpose and also a sense of identity. If we think of the modern Ireland we live in, it is very difficult for young people to feel okay about themselves, to know where they fit in, when they are under such pressure to achieve and to succeed. While it is difficult to give one defined answer, fundamentally it is about trying to create a culture in Ireland where young people feel valued and cared for and that is something that we all have a role to play in.