Students at Castlederg High School have taken part in a training programme designed to help them support friends who may be struggling with mental health issues.

The pupils completed Hope Champion training with the mental health charity Resilio, which involved a two-day programme exploring hope and resilience. The training taught them how to approach someone who might be having difficulties, listen without judgement, and help reconnect them with people and support around them.

A key message of the programme is that having a conversation can never do harm.

The initiative is part of a wider effort to establish Castlederg as a Town of Hope, a community where people look out for one another, isolation is challenged, and talking about mental wellbeing is normal.

The students did not just participate; they also contributed their own ideas and experiences to help develop Resilio's new Youth Hope Champion Training and a revised conversation programme. The charity plans to roll these out to other young people in other communities.

Resilio director Marie Dunne said the young people made an important contribution and helped design the new programmes. She added that what they created together would help reduce hopelessness and helplessness associated with mental health, and hopefully help save lives and activate hope.

The programme focuses on people feeling heard, understood and connected, and encourages seeking further support when needed.

The project was funded by the Co-Op, with support from Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Mrs Beatty. Resilio thanked the pupils for their trust and help, and acknowledged Mandy Chism, Nick Tomlinson, and Marie Dunne for developing and delivering the programme.