Early morning walk lifts up awareness of mental health

By Maurice Garvey

STAFF, students and parents from St Dominic’s Secondary School, Ballyfermot, took part in an early morning 3k walk to raise awareness for mental health.

Guidance Counsellor Cheryl Keeler and Health Promoting School Co-ordinator Aisling McKee organised an early morning sponsored walk on Friday, May 20.

Students, staff and parents met at the school at the early hours of 6am and took off on a 3k walk, which they say was an “extremely uplifting event and fantastic to see so many involved.”

On return to the school, they listened to good music and enjoyed a nice breakfast, with a stand set up by the school’s positive mental health team issuing information to the students on coping techniques.

Students played a stormer in the fundraising side of this event, raising a whopping €600 which goes towards Pieta House, Green Ribbon Organisation, and towards the schools work with Cycle against Suicide next year.

St Dominic’s believe that the promotion of positive mental health and suicide awareness is a vital component in the school environment.

The school has developed links with agencies who have supported their direct role with students, and felt it important to give back.