Today we had the opportunity to visit with the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Niall O’Donahue! He is the youngest Lord Mayor in the history of Belfast, and the first from the Sinn Fein party. While there, we were fortunate to have tea with him and learn about his initiatives to raise awareness to the issue of the high suicide rate within Belfast. Due to his young age (25), he is keenly aware of the high rates of suicide amongst young adults. Unfortunately, since his post is largely ceremonial, he holds no executive power to enact legislation to combat the problem. However, he shared with us that his office recently put together a “Celebrating Life” conference to promote appreciation for mental well-being and begin a change in the way suicide is seen within Belfast. Following our meeting with him, we were given a tour of City Hall. What an impressive building! I am extremely grateful we had the opportunity to partake in this experience. It was great to meet the Lord Mayor and see what the government is doing to understand and change the issue of suicide in Northern Ireland!
CSPP Students with the Lord Mayor of Belfast