Mental Health Week

Mental Health Week 2018

Each year in Oatlands College from the 21st to 26th January, Mental Health Week takes place. This week is dedicated to promoting healthy mental attitude in students through various activities taking place throughout the week such as walks, fun runs, guest speakers and other activities.Every day during the week the whole school would go on a walk to allow students to take a break from the normal school day. This walk would consist of the students and teachers walking up to Oatlands Primary, down Woodlands Avenue and back into the school. In the school posters were hung up to promote positive mental attitude in students through small tips such as breathing and trying not to get stressed and positive quotes. These posters help to brighten up the hall and remind students useful tips for stress and anxiety. Throughout the week teachers were asked to play mental health videos to give students advice and tips also.
For Mental Health Week, First Years made movie trailers with different themes such as “Adrenaline”, by doing this the students were able to see different types of movies and what goes into making them and having the chance to make one themselves.Second Years did various events through mental health week such as colouring in adult colouring books, to be hung around the classes. Adult colouring help to relieve stress and anxiety. On Thursday second years also had a day of playing board games such as Jenga, Chess and Twister allowing them to distract from the regular school week and relax. Every day during the week the whole school would go on a walk to allow students to take a break from the normal school day. This walk would consist of the students and teachers walking up to Oatlands Primary, down Woodlands Avenue and back into the school.
In the school posters were hung up to promote positive mental attitude in students through small tips such as breathing and trying not to get stressed and positive quotes. These posters help to brighten up the hall and remind students useful tips for stress and anxiety. Throughout the week teachers were asked to play mental health videos to give students advice and tips also.
For Mental Health Week, First Years made movie trailers with different themes such as “Adrenaline”, by doing this the students were able to see different types of movies and what goes into making them and having the chance to make one themselves.
Second Years did various events through mental health week such as colouring in adult colouring books, to be hung around the classes. Adult colouring help to relieve stress and anxiety. On Thursday second years also had a day of playing board games such as Jenga, Chess and Twister allowing them to distract from the regular school week and relax.
On the last day of Mental Health Week, Third Years participated in a FIFA Tournament, organised by Mr. Willoughby in the canteen.  As most of the students enjoyed playing FIFA, it was a treat to be able to play it in school and if students were not interested they would still have those classes off and able to watch their fellow classmates play the game, with the winners earning small trophies.
During Mental Health Week, Transition Year had trips to Collins Barrack and Water Safety talks but this didn't stop them from participating in Mental Health Week activities. On Monday the TY’s participated in a guided prayer held in the prayer room. Allowing the students to participate in meditation, reducing stress and relaxing.
As well as going on the daily walks, Fifth Years also organised a Fun Run around the pitch, consisting altogether of a mile for fifth years on Thursday. Everyone in Fifth Year took part with each person choosing whether to run, jog or walk the four laps. The main goal was to get students moving as exercise helps a person's mental health. Not only students took part in the event, with some teachers also decided to run the mile.
On Thursday Brian McAvoy spoke on behalf of Pieta House, a nonprofit suicide and self-harm intervention and suicide bereavement organization, to fifth and sixth years about what the organization does and answering questions that the students may have on different topics to do with suicide prevention, what the organization does and other questions relating to mental health.
On Friday Fifth Years attended a talk from acclaimed author of the book series Ross O’Carroll-Kelly and sport journalist, Paul Howard. Reading extracts from his books and answering question Paul Howard made the students laugh and have a good time to end Mental Health Week.
o help promote Mental Health Week, Sixth Years created a video about mental health entitled “The Butterfly Effect”, showing students that if they are suffering that they aren’t alone and to talk to someone. Sixth Years also participated in a jump off of the 40ft in Dún Laoghaire, to promote positive mental health.
Oatlands College would like to thank Brian McAvoy, Pieta House and Paul Howard for speaking to the students of Oatlands College.
Pieta House: http://www.pieta.ie
Sixth Year Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqCQaXaa9Xk&feature=youtu.be