Dónal Walsh’s mum: Get help for depression

The mother of a teenager from Kerry whose terminal cancer inspired him to exhort his peers not to take their own lives, has urged those with depression to seek help early.

In the foreword to a mental health booklet of personal stories from students and staff at University College Cork, Elma Walsh writes that it is “hard work to keep from relapsing and usually takes more than one attempt to ask for help”.

“Remember, the Black Dog starts off as a pup and if there is early intervention, that dog could turn out to be a Dalmatian where we have good and bad days and are better able to cope with them.”