Sunday Times Secondary School of the Year 2023

St. Mary's Grammar School

Peace of Mind: Year 9 Pupils Embrace New Wellbeing Programme

Year 9 pupils at St Mary’s are actively engaging in ‘Peace of Mind’, a new applied storytelling initiative supporting youth mental health across Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland.

Delivered by Verbal in collaboration with The Cedar Foundation, Open University, and Inspire Wellbeing, the programme empowers young people aged 11–25 to build strong, positive relationships and develop essential life skills such as resilience, self-efficacy, and emotional coping strategies.

Funded by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), Peace of Mind offers a series of interactive sessions focused on key areas of personal development, including:

• Social Media

• Positive Roles and Relationships

• Conflict Resolution

• Building a Cohesive Society

• Stress and Worry

• Managing Emotions

Through creative workshops and guided discussions, pupils are encouraged to reflect on their experiences and explore practical tools to support their emotional wellbeing.

This initiative complements St Mary’s preventative curriculum, reinforcing the school’s commitment to nurturing resilience and fostering healthy relationships in an ever-evolving world.

A heartfelt thank you to workshop facilitator Marie Berthier for her inspiring delivery and dedication to the programme!

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