Wellbeing

One’s mental health is a vital aspect for a fulfilled life. We at John the Baptist C.S. want to develop an awareness of mental health and the importance of acknowledging one’s own mindset.

Cycle Against Suicide

Cycle Against Suicide is an initiative started by Irish entrepreneur, Jim Breen, as a result of his appearance on RTE’s The Secret Millionaire programme. Together with the Cycle Against Suicide Organisation; management,
teachers and students in John The Baptist Community School have come together to complete one main essential objective, to become an ambassador school for this essential initiative. The main objective is to raise awareness of the considerable help and
supports that are available for anybody battling with their inner demons and mental health issues within our community or those loved ones around us. The Cycle Against Suicide community in our school is determined to let people in every corner Limerick
and of the island of Ireland know that; it’s OK not to feel OK and it’s absolutely OK to ask for help.

The Ambassador School Programme established in 2013 aims to encourage schools in all years to become actively involved in mental health promotion. The programme provides a framework, structure and incentive for schools to
integrate mental health activities into the school plan and rewards schools that go the extra mile.

The Ambassador School Programme involves the completion of what are known as ‘Five Gears’ over the course of the year. We were delighted to achieve the five gears and became an ambassador school in 2016.

  • Gear 1: Mental Health Education
  • Gear 2: Project Work
  • Gear 3: Simple Things
  • Gear 4: Mental Health Week
  • Gear 5: Get Active

We will keep our community informed of our task/ gear completions on our website and continue to spread the message that Together, shoulder to shoulder, we can break the cycle of suicide on the island of Ireland.

  • Mental Health Day Sixth Years – put in transcript and pictures from post on old website
  • Santa’s Grotto

In 2016, Santa’s visit to John the Baptist Community School was very special. As part of the school’s drive for an open and frank conversation and exploration of mental health issues, students were treated to a fantastic display in Room 18.
Special decorated as an intricate Santa’s grotto, made magical by hundreds of lights and interactive lights shows of snow. Students and staff followed the story of Buddy the Elf and his struggle with sadness down the specially constructed corridors.
Coming to a fork, visitors were asked to choose from two paths ahead; to go it alone and try to work through his issues on his own or to accept the help of his friends and others. Those that chose to go it alone actually were lead out of the grotto and back to the start, while those that accepted the help of

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