Smart D8 & SPCGS Team Up for Health & Happiness Week 2025

Health & Happiness Week 

Smart D8 recently partnered with St. Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School to support their Health & Happiness Week, held at the end of January. This new collaboration aimed to promote students’ wellbeing through two interactive workshops, led by our skilled Smart D8 Tutors.

Mental Health First Aid Workshop

DATE: Monday, January 27th

TIME: 11:15 am

FACILITATOR: Christina Kenny, Smart D8 Tutor

TARGET AUDIENCE: 21 students, aged 15-17

OVERVIEW: the workshop provided students with an understanding of mental health, its challenges, and how to approach conversations about it. The session mixed informative presentations with group activities to help students learn:

  • The key signs of mental health struggles
  • How to start conversations with someone who may be struggling
  • Essential skills for providing mental health support
  • Available resources and how to take care of your mental wellbeing

The workshop fostered great group interaction, where students collaborated on activities and shared insights. Videos that were shown also sparked important discussions. Key resources shared with students included:

  1. YouTube  video: Brene Brown on Empathy vs Sympathy
  2. YouTube video: Calm – This is not a drill
  3. Samaritans: call 116 123 for local support information
  4. Jigsaw / Spunout: youth-focused services, including a helpful text line
  5. Turn2Me.ie: provides online counseling services and tools

Write Your Own Manifesto Workshop

DATE: Wednesday, January 31st

TIME: 11:15 am

FACILITATOR: Aoife Concannon, Smart D8 Tutor

TARGET AUDIENCE: 20 students, aged 13-14

OVERVIEW: the workshop encouraged students to explore their personal values and goals through the creation of a personal manifesto. Using vibrant post-it notes, students designed colorful Manifesto posters, helping them reflect on what truly matters to them. The students responded positively, engaging deeply with the content and exercises. The session included:

  • Inspirational examples and thought-provoking phrases
  • An opportunity for students to design their own Manifestos
  • A lively discussion where students shared their thoughts

Some students were so motivated that they asked to display their Manifestos in their Homeroom, which we took as a sign of success. The informal feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many students eager to share their Manifesto ideas with the class.

Impactful and Inspiring Sessions

Both workshops were an inspiring and rewarding experience for both students and facilitators. It was wonderful to see the students actively participating, engaging in meaningful conversations, and leaving with valuable insights into their mental wellbeing and personal goals. We look forward to further collaborations that promote health, happiness, and positive change in the Dublin 8 community!