Louth Secures €140K for Cross-Border Youth Mental Health Initiative
Louth County Council’s Healthy Louth programme has been awarded €140,000 to launch an innovative mental health initiative, ‘Dear Future Me.’
Over the next two years, this funding from Creative Health and Wellbeing in the Community, Shared Island Funding will support a series of transformative programmes for young people aged 10-18 in Louth, Newry, Mourne, and Down.
Collaborating with partners like Dundalk Youth Centre and the Magnet Centre in Newry, the initiative aims to combat loneliness, isolation, and poor mental health through diverse activities such as “Picnic in the Park,” “Top of the World Hiking,” “Shared Serenity” sessions, and creative workshops in videography, performing arts, and cooking for wellness.
The project will culminate in a ‘Dear Future Me’ festival, where young participants can showcase their achievements. This significant investment highlights the commitment to fostering mental well-being among youth and bridging communities across borders.
Healthy County Coordinator Paula Keenan expressed gratitude for the funding, emphasizing its potential to make a tangible difference. Kevin Moran from Dundalk Youth Centre and Teresa Kearney from Magnet Youth Centre also praised the collaborative effort, while HSE’s Mark Garvey highlighted the initiative’s role in addressing prevalent health issues among young people. For more information, visit the Healthy Louth page on the Louth County Council website.
