Mr. Ryan Sharpe:

I thank members of the committee for the invitation to speak here today. I am a past pupil of the Life Centre, an alternative education centre in Cork. Sitting next to me is Ms Tami O'Leary, who is a current sixth-year student at the Life Centre and will speak after me.

We are glad to hear mental health supports in schools and third level education is a subject under review by this committee. Many students who have attended the Cork Life Centre have experienced mental ill-health at one time or another. In fact, 20% of all young people in Ireland will experience a mental health problem in any one year. Are the necessary services and supports in place? Unfortunately, we feel that the answer is "No". It is fair to say mental health awareness advanced in Ireland as we grew up and went through school. Mental health, as distinct from physical health, is a topic that is now referred to openly. Various charities try to spread awareness about mental health issues. Movember is in full swing, raising awareness for suicide in men, among others. Not all, but many, feel more comfortable and safe discussing these topics. However, are the supports available once the discussion is started? In our experience, the answer is "No".

We are speaking from our experience but have asked for the input of our friends and peers, and they echo our experiences. For us, counselling services did not exist at primary school level. That is not to say mental health issues did not. Looking back on it, I can see the mental health issues I had in later life began when I was in primary school. Counselling was not available and mental health was not discussed. Mental health issues do not magically begin once you enter secondary school. Why does it seem that systemic supports think that way?

When I was in mainstream secondary school, mental health was mentioned, but only once. Two people from Jigsaw came in to talk to us. They were good but speaking to a room of 40 lads was tough. You did not want to be the uncool one paying attention. If you focused too much, people would wonder what was wrong with you. Messing was the easier option. The topic remained taboo. The fact that when two people came in to talk about this topic was the only time it was addressed made this worse.

We do not expect all teachers to be mental health experts, far from it, but just think they should be more understanding. Teachers knew I was going through a hard time but only two ever spoke to me about it. There was a guidance counsellor but there was a huge stigma about going to them. The room was clear for everyone to see and you would be asked why you had been there. On top of that, the guidance counsellor would ask you in the hall how you were doing while your friends were there. It put you on the spot and started questions from your friends. Guidance counsellors are great, but they are not counsellors.

In the end, there was not enough support for me in my secondary school. I moved to the Cork Life Centre and loved it there. There was so much more emphasis on my social, emotional and psychological development over the academic side of school. There were counsellors who were trained psychotherapists if I needed them. I could always talk to the director and deputy director, Don O'Leary and Rachel Lucey. I completed my leaving certificate last year and am studying music at third level. So far, I have been made aware that a counselling service exists. I think it needs to be advertised and signposted better.

Mental health supports can be a key part of a young person's development. I hope that young people in the future will not have to experience the same stigma, misunderstanding and lack of mental health supports that I did in mainstream primary and post-primary education.