Cubbard laments absence of mental health and wellbeing from election agenda
AN Independent candidate has hit out at the reluctance of the ‘bigger General Election players’ to talk about mental health and wellbeing issues affecting the younger generation.
Galway West Independent candidate and Mayor of Galway, Cllr. Michael Cubbard, said that back in June of 2017, he had contacted the Education Minister of the time – Richard Bruton – asking him to introduce wellbeing and mental health awareness into the school curriculum.
“I suggested we should take the brave step and create positions of employment that ensured all our secondary school children take part in wellbeing classes and be prepared for life’s challenges when their time in school came to an end. Unfortunately, I was advised that it was not on the agenda of the Government at that time.
“In recent years, we have sadly lost so many to suicide here in Galway, something which has been replicated across the country. There are several factors at play here but I believe many of them can be addressed with the political will to do so,” said Cllr. Cubbard.
He said that in many rural towns and villages, access to community youth programmes was practically non-existent – and like Galway city – were only provided through the goodwill of local volunteers.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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