A youth group in Co Meath who created a board game to help break the stigma around mental health has been honoured at the Traveller Pride Awards.
The teenagers from Trim are hoping the game will help young people and in particular the young people in the Traveller community, who are facing challenges around mental health.
The "No Shame Game" was developed by the teenagers at the Involve Project in Trim.
It came from a campaign they started in 2017 which saw the teens create posters, a social media account and a social media video that went viral.
The aim of the campaign was to raise awareness around mental health and help young people develop coping skills when they face challenges.
The young people wanted to develop and build on their idea and in 2019 they began working on a board game.
They received funding from Meta to develop and create the game.
The board game presents players with different scenarios and there are positive messages as participants make their way around the board.
One of the teenagers who worked on the project, Tiffany Reaney, said: "It helps you open up to people and talk to people, I think that’s the best part of it and it’s fun as well."
Kay McCabe from the Involve Project in Meath added: "Mental health is hard to discuss for anybody but unfortunately within the travelling community suicide rates are seven times higher than they are in the settled community.
"Anything we could do to break down the stigma and shame around bringing up mental health through a game and even having a little bit of fun is worthwhile."
The teenagers are hoping to get more funding so they can distribute a game to every school, community group and youth group in the country.
"This game is for all young people, not just for travellers," Mc McCabe added.
"We want to share this with everyone. We want this be a resource for every young person."
Brian Doyle, 24, a youth worker with Involve in Meath, is another of one the winners today.
He has been honoured with the youth award for his work with young people and in particular during Covid.
Along with creating innovative programmes and delivering activities for them, mostly outdoors, the youth worker managed to engage the young people in his service throughout the whole two years.
He also delivered an online cooking programme, Baking with Brian, and is currently studying Global Youth Work in Maynooth University.
"It's a great achievement for me to get this award," he said.
"It’s breaking down a lot of barriers for me and my community and it’s showing awareness as well and if I can do this and get this award, then so can others."
Mary Connors received the Lifetime Achievement Award at today’s awards ceremony at the Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin.
She has worked with the Waterford Travellers Community Development Project and set up the Wexford Travellers Network.
Nancy Power of the Traveller Pride Steering Committee said: "These awards give Travellers the opportunity to show their achievements and combat the stereotypes that are out there in the settled community in terms of racism."
