Irish language wellbeing resources published to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge

New wellbeing resources in the Irish language are launching for use in primary and secondary schools.

Walk in My Shoes (WIMS) is sharing new Irish language wellbeing supports for schools to coincide with Seachtain na Gaeilge 2023.

At WIMS, we aim to support students across Ireland in promoting positive mental health awareness. We are delighted to have translated some of our mental health resources to help support wellbeing and foster healthy mental health practices in schools across Ireland, including Gaelscoileanna and Irish language schools.

Our new Irish language resources include Ag Tabhairt Aire Duit Féin, Ag Tabhairt Aire Don Dúlra (Taking Care of Yourself, Taking Care of Nature), our #MindYourSelfie nature workbook which was developed together in partnership with BirdWatch Ireland, Leave No Trace and Biodiversity in Schools.

The workbook explores the links between nature and our mental health. It looks at why and how the natural world is important for our health and wellbeing. It suggests ways we can connect with nature in daily life to support our wellbeing. It also looks in turn at ways we can look after the natural world, and some of the reasons why this is important.

Is leabhar oibre é seo a fhiosraíonn na naisc idir an dúlra agus ár meabhairshláinte. Féachann sé ar cén fáth agus cén chaoi a bhfuil an domhan nádúrtha tábhachtach dár sláinte agus dár bhfolláine. Molann sé bealaí inar féidir linn nascadh leis an dúlra inár saol laethúil chun tacú lenár bhfolláine. Féachann sé freisin ar bhealaí inar féidir linn aire a thabhairt don domhan nádúrtha, agus ar chuid de na cúiseanna a bhfuil sé seo tábhachtach.

Additionally, our Féile Gníomhaithe Folláine (Wellbeing Action Calendar) has some fantastic daily activity ideas for young people to help them explore positive mental health, such as:

• Say one nice/positive thing to someone today (Abair rud éigin deas le duine éigin inniu)
• Go for a walk (Téigh ag siúl)
• List three things you like about yourself (Scríobh síos trí rud is maith leat fút féin)
• Introduce yourself to someone new (Cuir túféin aithne do dhuine éigin).
  
  

Our WIMS Campaign Manager, Amanda McArdle, says:

“Based on conversations with and feedback from teachers across Ireland, WIMS is pleased to release this support material in Irish, or as Gaeilge, and looks forward to seeing how the resources are received. Language should never be a barrier to learning about ways to stay mentally well, and we welcome the opportunity to be able to promote mental health awareness through the Irish language. We hope students and teachers in schools and communities across Ireland enjoy these resources.”

Ciara Ní Bhroin from Gaeloideachas, an organisation supporting the development of Irish-medium education, says:

“Gaeloideachas is very pleased that the workbook, Taking Care of Yourself, Taking Care of Nature, is now available in Irish. It is vital that these types of mental health and wellbeing resources are available to young people. We are sure that great use will be made of the resources in all-Irish and Gaeltacht schools around the country to encourage meaningful and important conversations. We hope that the various resources will help young people to be more aware of good ways to take care of themselves and useful strategies that may be helpful to them. We are very happy that more Irish language resources are also being developed at the moment.”

“Tá an-áthas ar Gaeloideachas go bhfuil an leabhar oibre, Ag Tabhairt Aire Duit Féin, Ag Tabhairt Aire Don Dúlra, ar fáil i nGaeilge anois. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go bhfuil acmhainní folláine agus sláinte mheabhrach den chineál seo ar fáil do dhaoine óga. Tá muid cinnte go mbainfear an-leas as na hacmhainní i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta timpeall na tíre le comhráití fiúntacha tábhachtacha a spreagadh."

 “Tá súil againn go gcabhróidh na hacmhainní éagsúla le daoine óga bheith níos airdeallaí maidir le bealaí maithe chun aire a thabhairt dóibh féin agus straitéisí úsáideacha a bhféadfadh bheith cabhrach dóibh. Tá muid an-sásta go bhfuil breis acmhainní Gaeilge á bhforbairt i láthair na huaire freisin.”