Rugby Players Ireland has teamed up with Ireland internationals Calvin Nash and Christy Haney to help launch the new school season of the Tackle Your Feelings Schools online teaching platform.

As part of the launch, TYF is encouraging teachers and schools nationwide to sign up for the free classroom-based programme. The programme will equip students across Ireland with practical tools for building resilience, emotional intelligence, and positive mental health.

Teachers are given the tools and resources to guide their students through relevant lessons on the platform. The students will complete tasks and exercises designed to make them more aware and knowledgeable about their own mental health and wellbeing, with guidance and support throughout their journey.

The programme’s content is developed using positive and sports psychology principles and has been approved by clinical and educational psychologists. Teachers are supported with comprehensive lesson plans, and students can easily access the content when in school or at home. The TYF Schools Programme includes an 8-lesson schedule covering awareness, emotions, well-being characteristics, and self-care.

The Rugby Players Ireland ambassadors also appear in short videos, sharing their own experiences of mental well-being and acting as role models to encourage students to be honest with themselves about their positive mental health.

Supporting

Eimear Considine, Ryan Baird, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, and James Lowe are also getting involved, supporting the Tackle Your Feelings Schools Programme across the country.

A research study (with eight teachers) is being conducted with the University of Limerick to assess teachers’ perspectives on the experience of facilitating the TYF programme on youth mental wellbeing.

Preliminary results indicate that teachers are finding that TYF normalises conversations about mental well-being. Teachers noted that implementing TYF Schools encouraged dialogue around mental well-being by acting as “a catalyst for them to talk about it.”

To help launch the new season and show appreciation to the educators delivering the programme, TYF is running a nationwide competition. The competition will give teachers from each of the four provinces the chance to win two tickets to a rugby game of their provincial team this season.

Over 190 schools nationwide have already signed up since the start of the academic year.

Access

“I wish I had access to a programme like TYF Schools when I was growing up,” said Calvin Nash at the launch.

“It’s so important for young people to learn how to manage stress, build resilience, and talk openly about their mental health. This ready-to-go programme provides teachers with the resources they need to help their students understand their own positive mental wellbeing, and they can even get something out of it themselves.”

“As athletes, we know that mental strength is just as important as physical strength,” added Leinster’s Christy Haney.

“That’s why we’re proud to support the TYF Schools Programme and this incredible competition that rewards teachers for continuing to deliver the programme and broaden the positive impact these tools can have on students nationwide.”

“By prioritizing wellbeing in the classroom, teachers are making a real difference in the lives of young people across Ireland.”

Dedication

The programme is supported by Zurich Ireland, whose CEO Anthony Brennan said: “We know that teachers put their hearts into supporting their students, and we see the dedication from teachers nationwide each year in ensuring their students feel understood and cared for throughout what can be a challenging time in school.”

“We are proud to continue encouraging teachers and schools nationwide to sign up for the TYF Schools Programme and continue making an incredible impact on the lives of this young generation.”

“We’re incredibly proud of the impact the TYF Schools Programme has already had, and have created a programme that we hope supports the teachers as much as possible when delivering a Wellbeing Curriculum to their students, but we know there’s always more work to be done knowing more students can be reached around the country,” concluded Tackle Your Feelings Campaign Manager at Rugby Players Ireland, Hannah McCormack.

“It has been incredible to witness the growth of the programme since its first launch almost 5 years ago.”

The TYF Programme is run by Rugby Players Ireland and funded by the Z Zurich Foundation. It has motivated people across Ireland to be more proactive when it comes to looking after their mental wellbeing and has increased awareness around the importance of taking care of your mental health.

TYF has also reached international audiences and has inspired similar campaigns across the globe, including; The English Rugby Players’ Association (RPA), ‘Lift the Weight’ campaign, New Zealand Rugby’s ‘HeadFirst’ campaign and Tackle Your Feelings Australia, a collaboration between Zurich Australia, the AFLPA and AFLCA.

 

 

 

 

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