A heart breaking video made by teenage cancer victim Donal Walsh has been made public in a bid to thwart Ireland’s escalating youth suicide problem.
Kerry 16-year-old Walsh reached out to the nation when he pleaded with young people not to take their own lives before he lost his tragic battle with cancer.
Now Ireland’s Health Service Executive has released a short video based on Walsh’s experience which includes an impassioned plea from the youngster for young people to talk about their problems.
Walsh made the headlines and won a place in the nation’s heart when wrote an open letter to the media about young people and suicide earlier this year.
He then appeared on state television when he spoke about how he was coping with his illness, and encouraged others who are feeling low to talk to someone they trust.
The Irish Times reports that the new video is aimed at 15- to 19-year-olds.
It features excerpts from the show as well as an interview with Donal which was shot at his home in Tralee.
In the plea., he says: “When I am feeling low because of what happened to me I take time to think, I try to realise where the good is in my life over the bad things.
“I talk to my parents, or find a friend to talk to, and we’d look ahead in life, we’d see where I was going to go or what I was going to do, or we’d talk about what my dreams are and what my hopes are for the future.
“I would say someone who is standing there in a room and they feel there is no windows and no doors, just black, to take time, a door will open and someone will be at that door.
“You can go to the door as well. Anyone can find their own door out. They just have to ask. It takes a lot of courage to ask.”
The report says that Irish musician Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin, who has talked openly about his own mental health issues in recent months, provided the voiceover.
The film was made with the support of the Walsh family.
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