Kildare school has been awarded for their promotion of positive mental health and wellbeing

St Mark’s Special School in Newbridge has been awarded for their promotion of positive mental health and wellbeing among their students as part of the seventh annual Mission Possible School Achievement awards from Walk in My Shoes, the flagship awareness-raising and education campaign of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services.

Established in 2017, the Mission Possible School Achievement Awards recognises the vital role schools play in promoting positive mental health, raising awareness and reducing stigma in the school and the community.

For this year’s Mission Possible initiative, schools were invited to create their very own “Mission Possible Wellbeing Walls” to showcase all the wellbeing supports in place, and the initiatives happening in their school, as well as signposting students to the supports outside of school.

Since September, over 200 schools across Ireland have created wellbeing walls that creatively illustrate how they are supporting positive mental health. Of these 200 schools, 50 submitted their wellness wall projects.

St Mark’s Special School named their wellbeing wall “We all fit together” and it focused on how communities in school and outside of school help students to be themselves and to celebrate their unique individuality. The wellbeing wall symbolises unity, friendships, positivity and awareness – reminding students that they are all individuals and regardless of gender, disability or race, everyone can make a difference and fit together in this world.

All of the wellbeing walls created by schools have been added to the Walk in My Shoes’ School Portal, a secure online platform for primary and secondary school staff across Ireland to highlight and share with each other what they’re doing in their schools, classrooms and communities to promote positive mental health and wellbeing. The School Portal acts as a central hub of ideas and resources to help schools across the country to further promote and support mental health and wellbeing. 

This year’s winning schools were selected by a panel of three judges: Áine Lynch, Chief Executive Officer, National Parents Council; Sinéad Smyth, teacher at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services’ Willow Grove Adolescent Unit; and Tamara Nolan, Director of Communications and Advocacy, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services.

Speaking about the Mission Possible School Achievement Awards, Willow Grove teacher and judge, Sinéad Smyth, said: “I am delighted to be part of the Walk in My Shoes’ Mission Possible campaign, which is such a wonderful initiative in breaking down barriers to positive mental health for young people.

As a teacher in the Willow Grove Adolescent Unit, I understand the unique challenges faced by school students, particularly those who may be experiencing mental health difficulties. The Mission Possible School Achievement Awards is an opportunity for students and teachers to showcase their commitment to fostering supportive and inclusive learning environments for all students, and to challenge the stigma associated with mental health difficulties that can be a barrier to many young people seeking support.

Congratulations to all the teachers and students who participated in Mission Possible this year and built wellness walls in their schools. Through the creation of these wellness walls, schools are creating open and inclusive environments, providing students with important information about supports available, and encouraging them to continuously challenge mental health stigma.”

The winning school in each category will receive prize money of €600, while all participating schools will receive a Certificate of Achievement.

To find out more about the 2023 Mission Possible School Achievement Awards, visit www.walkinmyshoes.ie.