Local students are ‘Walk in My Shoes’ Ambassadors

Two local students joined transition year students from across Ireland to graduate as ‘Walk in My Shoes’ mental health ambassadors during a special online ceremony held to celebrate the class of 2021/2022.

Aisling McLoughlin of Scoil Mhuire, Trim, and Yannis McLoughlin of Beaufort College, Navan, both graduated as mental health ambassadors from the Walk in My Shoes programme.

For over 10 years, Walk in My Shoes, the flagship education and awareness-raising campaign of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, has run a Transition Year programme inviting over 100 students from across Ireland to take part each year.

The week-long programme runs five times during the academic year between October and March, with 20 to 25 students per programme.

Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the programme was adapted to an online format, and has been delivered digitally, with specially adapted interactive sessions designed to give students a comprehensive and engaging experience.

During their placements, students receive first-hand insight into how a mental healthcare service operates and the experiences of those with mental health difficulties.

They meet mental health experts and clinicians; hear from people who have gone through mental health difficulties and their experiences of mental health recovery; and discuss mental health stigma and ways to tackle it.

With significant challenges to recruitment noted over the last few years, particularly in the mental health sector, the TY Programme also provides students with a chance to learn about career pathways in mental health and the various opportunities for a career in this sector.