Foyle student Alex proudly carries 'hope baton'

A Derry schoolgirl known for her passionate mental health advocacy has taken part in a prominent suicide prevention campaign.

Foyle College student Alex Patterson was a baton bearer at the Belfast leg of the 'Baton of Hope UK' tour, an initiative where a custom-made baton is carried around 12 cities in a bid to highlight awareness of the issues surrounding suicide.

The 16-year-old, who lives in Eglinton, was put forward to take part in the event by her technology and design teacher at Foyle, Mrs McShane, in recognition of her efforts in the area of mental health awareness over the last number of years.

Alex said: “I was one of the first baton bearers leaving Weavers Cross. The baton was quite heavy and very solid, and I remember thinking 'my arms are starting to ache but I still have some distance to go until I hand it over to the next bearer'.

“I felt that this baton was something people could see as we made our way through the city, and hopefully it made people pause, perhaps in reflection, as many are affected by mental health or family suicide.”

The creative fifth-year student's affinity with mental health issues grew out of her participation in a schools competition seeking artwork to feature on the 'Boat of Hope', a rowing campaign launched by entrepreneur and adventurer Bernie Hollywood raising awareness of the challenges facing young people during Covid.

Talented artist Alex's submission was successful and became one of a number of pieces transformed into a 42ft mural emblazoned on the boat, showing the journey a young person goes through when suffering from depression.

“This particular event stands out to me,” she said, “as it was one of the first times I really had to put thought into what I was putting on my canvas.

“Bernie Hollywood came to my school and gave talks to raise awareness for mental health. The more the topic was raised, the more thought and effort I put back into it.”

Caring Alex has been involved in a variety of fundraising efforts, with a sponsored paint raising over £5,000 for Altnagelvin staff working in the four Covid wards there.

She has donated roughly 25 paintings to charities supporting people's wellbeing, while her success in the Unison 'Free School Meals For All' campaign earned her £1,000 for art materials for Foyle College that enabled her to start up the first after-school junior eco-arts club, which has spawned a number of impactful projects since its creation in 2020.

Alex's altruism and innovation recently earned her the 'Best of Derry Inspirational Young Person of the Year' award, an accolade for which she feels 'incredibly grateful, as there are hundreds of equally deserving young people in the North West.”

And her involvement in mental health awareness, she says, has shaped her aspirations for her future career.

She said: “As much as I absolutely love my artistic side, I have never really thought of it as the way I will sustain myself in the future.

“I've always been a maths and science type of student. Combining this with my interest in mental health, I've become inspired by the idea of psychiatry, so at the minute that is what I'd want to pursue in the long run.”