This year John the Baptist Community School is working hard on a new project to address mental health issues. 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.
- 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.
