MENTAL WELLBEING INITIATIVE FOR SCHOOLS
Elephant in the Room, in partnership with the newly established Irish charity, the Kyne Foundation, has announced the launch of the Schools Mental Wellbeing Initiative. This groundbreaking initiative will involve an elephant sculpture that will be permanently placed in secondary schools as a conversation-starting symbol, paired with educational resources for participating schools across Ireland. As part of the overall wellbeing efforts of each school, the aim is to equip students and teachers with tools to promote positive mental wellbeing and foster community engagement.
The initiative introduces a comprehensive mental wellbeing pack, available both online and via social media channels to participating schools. This resource serves as a guide for schools to incorporate wellbeing themes into their curriculum and creative projects, while also allowing flexibility for each school to adapt the resources to meet their specific needs.
Schools Nationwide
Following consultations with school principals, a number of schools nationwide have already been chosen to receive funding for the installation and participate in this initiative on a pilot basis. These schools and students will also fundraise to support the development of the elephant sculpture and related resources, actively contributing to the effort locally and extending the impact. Each participating school will receive an elephant sculpture along with supporting materials designed to engage students through art, highlight mental well-being supports, and provide signposting to external services where needed.
The initiative was initially launched as a pilot in five schools, and due to its success, it is expanding to 15 schools in 2025, with hopes to reach even more in the coming years. The elephant sculptures act as a catalyst for open conversations around mental health topics such as stigma, bias, and other challenges affecting students' well-being. The strong interest from additional schools underscores the widespread demand for mental well-being resources in education across Ireland.
For more information about the Kyne Foundation and to support their work through donations, please visit www.kynefoundation.org.
"Everyone has an 'elephant in the room,' and this initiative is about starting conversations early before they develop into larger issues impacting students' wellbeing. It’s also about encouraging kindness—we never know what someone else might be going through in their day or life. Many young people only seek mental health support at a crisis stage, so early intervention in schools is vital. We need to normalise discussions around mental health and make it a daily priority, just like physical health. This initiative aims to give young people better tools to navigate life’s challenges, particularly within the school environment, while fostering a culture of inclusion and care."
Brent Pope,
Elephant in the Room
