Carl Frampton urges young people to talk about mental health

Carl Frampton has urged young people to open up and talk about their mental health struggles.

The former boxer was speaking at the launch of a children's mental health and suicide awareness video created by pupils from four County Antrim schools.

Frampton said the video was a "powerful tool" for parents and children.

Pupils from St Patrick's Academy, Malone Integrated College, Lisnagarvey High School and St Colm's High School took part in the video.

Called Listen Up, it will be used by the Education Authority as part of a teacher professional learning resource, which will be offered to all schools, to better equip school staff to deal with a child in a mental health crisis.

Frampton made a documentary about men's mental health last year and is keen to help others.

"It is a valuable resource for parents - it says: 'If your child is feeling like this, this is what you should do or shouldn't do,'" he says.

Speaking to the BBC, the two-weight world champion said there was a stigma around the issue and a "crisis in Northern Ireland".

"It's really important to open up and speak. Things are changing with the generations," he said.

"Even my generation is different to my kids and I do think people are opening up more and sharing," he said.

"What they're getting back in help - not the old, 'Don't worry about it,' or 'You need a kick up the backside'.

"That was the advice that people like me used to be given. I think that times are changing for the good," he added.

Catherine was part of the video and says her generation is facing the impact of the negatives of social media on their mental health.

She told BBC News NI that other young people and children can relate more to a video from other teenagers.

"They may want help and be too scared to ask for it so parents should always ask," she added.

Mustafa said mental health is important because not everyone speaks about their problems.

"They might laugh it away and the smile can be fake," he told BBC News NI.

"If you sit down with a teenager and have a deep conversation with them you'll see that they're going through a lot," he added.

Elaine Craig from the Education Authority said she was proud of the young people for making the video.

"The young people say in the video that they want trusted adults in the community to be able to talk to them and to be able to ask us the hard question. That shows that they care".

The project was funded by Choice Housing and was produced by ALPs Suicide Prevention Charity.

If you or someone you know are emotionally distressed or having feelings of despair, the BBC has details of organisations that offer advice and support.