Teen Talk now available to largest ever audience

By Geraldine Fitzgerald

The popular Teen Talk series will reach its largest audience ever this month, as it will be streamed directly to schools on 18 November. An additional event for parents - GenZ will then be streamed on 23 November.

The theme is the importance of positive mental health, particularly in the wake of the lockdown, for transition year students.

Ironically, the pandemic is the reason Teen Talk will be open to a greater audience as this is the first year the series will be conducted online as a single event, rather than given in person at various locations.

Organised and coordinated by Cork County Council and funded by Healthy Ireland through the Council's Local Community Development Committees, Teen Talk will feature a series of discussions on the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of young people. Topics such as mindfulness, teen psychology, resilience, sports participation, nutrition, and addiction will be discussed.

“It's tough being a teenager. It can be an emotional time under the best of circumstances,” said Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan.

“Add in the disappointment, uncertainty and disruption of the Coronavirus Pandemic and we are seeing our teens struggle at a much steeper level than usual. So, it's never been a more critical time for us to engage and stay connected as our young people navigate this difficult time. Events such as Teen Talks and GenZ will be a valuable resource to both teens and parents.”

Amongst the other speakers at the upcoming events are:

· Anna Geary, MC, broadcaster and performance and lifestyle coach

· Maureen Gaffney, Psychologist

· Pat Divilly, Mindfulness and Mindset Coach

· Rory O'Connor, Comedian with experience of gambling addiction

· Ray Goggins, Creator and Sergeant of RTE's ‘Hell Week’ - Leadership and resilience trainer

· Orlaith Farmer, Cork footballer and advocate for women in sport

The GenZ event, for which parents are invited to register, will discuss issues including teen psychology, leadership, LGBTQI+ and mental health.

“The impact of the Teen Talk initiative has been hugely positive, with transition year students learning of the importance of speaking out when they face challenges,” noted Niall O'Callaghan, Cork County Council's Healthy Ireland Coordinator.

“However, we realise that parents can sometimes struggle for the same reasons as their teenagers to communicate on various topics effectively. The evening event will help provide parents and teachers with the tools they need to explore any complicated issues that arise with teenagers. Knowledge is key to effective communication, and our list of speakers will address the most pressing issues facing GenZ.”

Parents can access the GenZ talk for free by registering at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/gen-z-2021-cork-county-council-healthy-ireland-tickets-199399869377