Mayo Mental Health Association – Schools Education Programme and Health Promotion
Mayo Mental Health Association aims to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for all individuals and communities and to support people with lived experiences of mental health challenges in their recovery, bringing practical expression to national policy objectives. To follow through on these objectives, Mayo Mental Health Association run a number of initiatives each year to support the Mayo community.
The initiatives run by Mayo Mental Health Association include a Schools Education Programme. MindOut is an evidence-based social and emotional learning programme which was first developed in 2004. The aim of the programme is to support the social, emotional, and mental wellbeing of young people aged 15–18 years in post-primary schools. Mayo Mental Health Association manages and coordinates the rollout of MindOut and provides one to one support to teachers delivering the programme at local level from the organisation.
MindOut is a joint project in partnership with the HSE, National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), Mental Health Ireland, Mayo Mental Health Association and Mindspace Mayo.
The programme aims to support the mental health and wellbeing of students and equip them with skills and coping strategies to manage current challenges in their lives, not least those resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
An evaluation (Dowling and Barry, 2017) showed students that participated in this programme had
an improved ability to manage thoughts and emotions, identify resources and supports, use coping
skills, and increase confidence and self-esteem.
Additionally, Breathe was set up in 2013 to promote, participate and facilitate mental health awareness and well-being for students in an interactive format. This programme currently involves 24 Secondary Schools
and engages with up to 10,500 pupils across the county. Both Breathe and MindOut have proven to
be very successful across the county.
Mayo Mental Health Association also run a number of health promotion initiatives each year to support young and old in their understanding of key mental health issues. Example initiatives include their Primary Schools Art Competition which encourages primary school children from 3rd to 6 th class to express their perceptions of mental health through art. They also carry out a variety of community initiatives throughout the year including Moving Your Mind, Woodlands for Health, Mayo Mental Health Fair etc. Many of these initiatives are in partnership with the HSE, Mental Health Ireland, Mayo GAA, Mayo Sports Partnership, Mindspace Mayo.
Fundraising Events include a St. Stephen’s Day Swim, Turlough 8K, and an annual church gate collection.
Furthermore, they run an Information Centre and provide social housing to residents throughout Mayo who are experiencing mental health difficulties.
DATA
- CategoryGood practices
- CountryIreland
- LanguageEnglish
- Type of resourceWebsite