Walk In My Shoes students graduate as mental health ambassadors
By William O'Connor
Walk in My Shoes saw over 100 students from across the country graduate as mental health ambassadors from its unique Transition Year (TY) Programme in a ceremony that took place in St Patrick’s University Hospital in May.
Students who graduated were from Firhouse Community College, Holy Family Community School Rathcoole, St Colmcille’s Knocklyon and St MacDara’s.
Ryan O’Shaugnessy, celebrity guest speaker with Alex Nugent, of Firhouse Community College and Paul Gilligan, CEO St Patrick’s Mental Health Services
The flagship education and awareness-raising campaign of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services originally launched its week-long TY Programme in 2011, with the aim of educating students about mental health difficulties, breaking down the stigma, and promoting positive mental health and wellbeing.
Hosted by the Adolescent Mental Health Team at St Patrick’s University Hospital and open to all fourth-year students, participants undertake a wide range of classroom-based activities.
These activities include multi-disciplinary team meetings with psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, nurses and social workers, cardiac first-response training, and talks on topics including social media and mental health, pharmacology, advocacy and many more.
Students emerge as mental wellbeing ambassadors on completing the programme, before sharing their new understandings of mental health through preparing and giving presentations to their classmates on their return to school.
To date, over 800 students have completed the programme, which is now in its ninth year.
Paul Gilligan, CEO of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, said: “75 per cent of mental health difficulties begin before the age of 24. We know that early intervention is key to recovery, so educating students is crucial to enhance positive mental health and eradicate stigma. It is fantastic to see the engaged and enthusiastic attitudes that students bring to learning about mental health through our TY Programme.
“Through undertaking this programme, students are equipped to act as mental health ambassadors, not only for their schools, but for their wider communities.” See more on page 61.
