SALUS

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This project is an innovative and collaborative cross border initiative which aims to design, deliver and evaluate mental health and wellbeing interventions for and with young people aged 11-25 years, carers and parents and community organisations supporting the interests of young people. The project is a direct response to the Department of Health and Children and DHSS&PS's North South Feasibility Study published in 2011 and specifically a recommendation therein suggesting that "the two Departments and relevant agencies should promote joint programmes to promote positive mental health and suicide prevention." The project will support targeted interventions to address the myriad of reported isuses, common to both jurisdictions which young people struggle with including exam stress, financial worries, concerns about self and family problems, bullying and relationships etc. Both Departments recognise the common challenges of tackling health inequalities and this represents a major priority for both juristictions as one in four people suffer from mental health problems and there is growing concern about the rise in suicide and self harm in young people. As such this project presents a responsive and collaborative intervention to developing much needed capacity-building practices in the interests of tackling health inequalities through improved resilience and mental health promotion. The project will deliver a range of focused cross-border wellbeing workshops for young people and carers, co-ordinate information roadshows; deliver mental health and suicide awareness training; run community-based health and wellbeing events and develop on-line and hard copy information and fact sheets. In addition the project will maximise cross-border publicity opportunities by wrtting thematic mental health and wellbeing bi-monthly articles for publication in newspapers in the border counties.

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