Walk in My Shoes launches Ireland's first mental health school portal

Every school treats mental health promotion differently.  Some schools run mental health events such as Wellness Weeks; others implement Buddy Bench initiatives, walking events and mindfulness exercises; while some schools are still looking for ideas to develop their own mental health and wellbeing strategy.

This free, private online platform will capture, in one place, the various resources, initiatives and ideas being rolled out by schools, teachers and students across the country to help support, inspire and collaborate with their colleagues in other schools in their efforts to promote and encourage mental health and wellbeing.

Speaking about the launch of this new platform, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Paul Gilligan, said:

We need to provide our young people with the information, advice and skills to tackle mental health difficulties, and school communities play an incredibly important role in this. By enabling primary and secondary schools around Ireland to highlight and share what they’re doing to promote mental health, the Walk in My Shoes School Portal provides an innovative platform which opens up conversations around mental health, reduces stigma, and empowers young people to live mentally healthy lives.

Minister Jim Daly, Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Mental Health and Older People, said:

Now more than ever, Irish primary and secondary students and teachers need access to resources that will assist them in creating a positive and proactive mental health strategy for their school. This Walk in My Shoes School Portal is going to serve as an invaluable tool to connect these schools and teachers across the country. Not only will it celebrate the great work already being done in schools, but it will provide inspiration and guidance for those looking to get started in making a  positive change in their own classrooms.

Resources on the platform are available for download, and can be filtered by class type, meaning that teachers can learn from and implement projects which will suit their classrooms. As well as providing resources to teachers, the new School Portal will allow schools across the country to enter the Mission Possible school achievement awards, which acknowledge and recognise the work being done by schools each year to promote positive mental health.