Talking About It: Young People in Meath Lead the Conversation on Mental Health

More than 50 young people from across County Meath came together this month for a special event called Talk About It — a day all about sharing ideas, experiences, and hopes for better youth mental health support.

Students and youth representatives from Kells Youthreach, Involve Meath, Dunboyne College, Cultúr Migrant Centre, and post-primary schools including Beaufort College, St. Patrick’s Classical, Mercy Secondary, and Boyne Community School took part. They were joined by more than 50 representatives from local organisations like CYPSC, TUSLA, HSE, LMETB, Youth Work Ireland, An Garda Síochána, Cultúr Migrant Centre, Springboard, Involve, Family Resource Centres, and others.

Taking place just a week before World Mental Health Day (October 10th), the event created a rare space where young people could speak directly with decision-makers and service providers about what’s really going on in their lives. It was a day of honest conversations, creative thinking, and powerful connection.

One young person summed it up simply:

“I felt heard.”

Another said:

“I was nervous at first, but they’re just real people like us. We had good chats and fun too.”

What young people are saying

The event, run by Jigsaw Meath in partnership with Comhairle na nÓg Meath, also shared findings from Jigsaw’s Amplify & Advocacy survey — research designed to understand what life is really like for young people in the county.

Some of the key insights included:

• Many young people still don’t know what mental health services and supports are available locally.
• Stigma — both internal (feeling embarrassed) and external (fear of being judged) — remains a major barrier to reaching out for help.
• The cost of living and housing crises are having a real impact, with many young people living at home longer and separated parents struggling to find suitable accommodation.

Turning words into action: #WhatsYourWord

In response to what they heard, Jigsaw Meath is launching the #WhatsYourWord stigma reduction campaign. The campaign asks everyone — young people, parents, families, and communities — to share the What’s Your Word? video on Jigsaw Meath’s Instagram, and to create their own positive words that encourage open conversations about mental health.

The word stigma originally comes from the Greek for “to brand or mark.” This campaign flips that meaning — replacing the negative with the positive. Instead of shame or judgment, we’re inviting people to share words of kindness, strength, and hope.

Schools, clubs, workplaces, and community groups across Meath are encouraged to take part:

• Watch and re-share the video.
• Create your own word.
• Start conversations where you live, learn, work, or play.

Follow this link to find the video on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPUDgqSD9kC/

Jigsaw Meath extended special thanks to Meath CYPSC (Children and Young People’s Services Committee) for funding both the Talk About It event and the #WhatsYourWord campaign.

The insights gathered from young people on the day will help shape both the CYPSC Plan and Jigsaw’s upcoming Strategic Plan (2027–2030) — ensuring that what young people said doesn’t just stay in the room, but leads to real change.

As organisers put it:

“This topic is too important to turn away from. Sharing one post, one word at a time, can become a powerful force for change.”