At the 2021 Annual Youth Conference in Co. Kerry, young people identified ‘Youth Mental Health’ as the most critical issue facing their peers. This marked the second consecutive year this topic was chosen, underscoring its significance. In response, Kerry Comhairle na nÓg members developed bookmarks and pocket information leaflets containing valuable resources on available services and advice on managing panic attacks. These materials were launched by Minister of State Frank Feighan and distributed to every secondary school in the county.

The main recommendation from the 2021 Youth Conference was to ‘Educate the Oldies’ on the challenges young people face. To address this, Comhairle members decided to create a short film illustrating how adults can positively or negatively influence young people’s mental health. Over several months, they collaborated with filmmaker Shane O’Ceallaigh to produce ‘The Bag.’ The film, shot at various locations in Tralee, featured Comhairle members in all roles. This project was funded by Healthy Ireland through the Kerry Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC).

Keira, who plays the main character, shared her experience: ‘We created this to educate people on the stress that young people carry around as it can be a lot and not many people acknowledge that. It took a long time and a lot of hard work to film, but we did it. To be honest, I never really saw myself at the age of 15 being an actor, but this was a great opportunity and one that I will be forever grateful for.’

‘The Bag’ has been presented at various Comhairle events, including two Youth Conferences, Student Support Teams Training, and the Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest. This initiative highlights the importance of youth mental health and the positive impact young people can have on raising awareness and educating others about their challenges.