News and blogs

Keep up to date with the latest news from mdeducational foundation or have a read of the articles we publish about the wellbeing of young people

Latest blogs

Luma³: A bright idea for wellness

December 15, 2021|

For most people, December is a positive and uplifting month with so much to look forward to and shared joy to be found. But according to this You Gov survey, a quarter of the population [...]

Whitepaper: The Mental Health Crisis in UK Schools

November 12, 2021|

According to a 2020 NHS report, 16% of children aged 5 to 16 years were identified as having a probable mental disorder, up from 10.8% in 2017. The report also found the likelihood of [...]

Things You Can Do to Manage Your Mental Health

July 13, 2021|

It’s been an incredibly stressful year, and it’s made an impact on everyone’s mental health. Under the circumstances, it’s understandable and completely normal to not feel like yourself at the moment. With this in mind, [...]

Friday Fun: Sing & Dance It Out! 🎤🕺 At St. Patrick’s & St. Brigid’s College, the Wellbeing Hub was alive with energy as students engaged in uplifting recreational activities! Hosted by our fantastic Wellbeing Lead, Blínne, groups came together to enjoy Karaoke and Just Dance. What a serotonin boost, our happy hormones are through the roof! 🎶✨ The atmosphere was filled with laughter and joy as students let loose, dancing and singing their hearts out. Blinne shared, “These activities not only promote positive resilience but also help regulate the brain”. We love to see students prioritising their mental health through enrichment activities that are just perfect for enhancing their wellbeing 💜 🎤 Pass the mic - what's your go-to karaoke song? #studentwellbeing #wellbeing #mentalhealth #karaoke #dance
Wellbeing Wednesday 💜 Kindness Matters! Acts of kindness, no matter how small, can create a ripple effect of positivity. By being kind, we not only uplift others but also enrich our own lives. Let’s make kindness a daily habit and spread joy wherever we go ☀️ Here are 3 ways to practice kindness every day: 💜 Offer a compliment - a genuine compliment can brighten someone’s day and boost their confidence. Take a moment to appreciate and acknowledge the good in others 😊 💜 Lend a helping hand - whether it’s holding the door open, helping a colleague with a task, or volunteering your time, small acts of service can have a big impact 🤝 💜 Show gratitude - expressing gratitude can strengthen relationships and create a positive atmosphere. Take time to thank those around you for their kindness and support 🙏 How do you practice kindness in your daily life? 💬 #wellbeingwednesday #worldkindnessday #kindnessmatters #spreadkindness #wellbeing
89% of young people reported experiencing social exclusion when asked about the nature of bullying they’ve faced in the past 12 months in the UK 🔹 This statistic sheds light on the urgent need for Anti-Bullying Week and this year’s theme: Choose Respect. According to Ditch the Label, 63% of young people who had been bullied felt it had a moderate to extreme impact on their mental health. The impact of bullying reaches deep into the lives of our young people, affecting their mental health, self-esteem, and overall wellbeing. We are stepping up to make a difference. Our Wellbeing Leads are placed in schools to make sure all post-16 students have a listening ear and a Wellbeing Hub as a safe, welcoming and non-judgmental space to go to. As one student said, ”The Wellbeing Hub is a place I can go where I don't feel alone because there's always someone. The Wellbeing Lead is super welcoming and nice and I'm always happy to see them”. Bullying affects young people profoundly, and that’s why our charity is here to shape the future and push for positive change 💙 Learn more about how we do it via the links in our bio ⬆️ 🔹The Annual Bullying Survey 2020, Ditch the Label @antibullyingalliance @ditchthelabel #wellbeing #antibullyingweek #chooserespect #studentwellbeing #mentalhealth
Wellbeing Wednesday 💗 Managing stress is crucial for maintaining our overall health and wellbeing. Effective stress management can improve your mood, boost immune function, and promote longevity. Remember, taking steps to manage stress is key to feeling your best and staying healthy 🌟 Here are 3 ways to manage stress effectively: 💗 Practice mindfulness - engage in mindfulness activities such as meditation, deep breathing, or yoga. These practices can help calm your mind and reduce stress levels 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️ 💗 Stay active - regular physical activity can help reduce stress hormones and trigger the release of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. Find an activity you enjoy, whether it’s walking, running, or dancing 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ 💗 Connect with others - talking to friends, family, or a trusted person can provide emotional support and help you feel less isolated. Building strong social connections is a powerful way to manage stress 🫂🤗 How do you manage stress in your daily life? 💬 #internationalstressawarenessweek #wellbeingwednesday #wellbeing #stressawarenessweek #stressmanagement
New Blog Post 🖋️ Last year, mdeducational foundation marked an important milestone as we proudly funded our first Wellbeing Lead in an Irish school at @mtstmichael. Now, a year later, we are excited to celebrate our one year of impact 🎉 In this blog, we reflect on the incredible journey so far and hear firsthand experiences from the school community. Join us to hear about the significant impact the initiative has had on student wellbeing this past year — link in our bio ⬆️ #Ireland #education #studentwellbeing #mentalhealth #charity
Student testimonial 🧡 To shed light on International Stress Awareness Week, one of our Wellbeing Leads shared what she thinks works best when it comes to helping young people manage and reduce stress: "I believe the best way to help my students is to begin by listening to them. It’s important to hear what they are trying to tell me. Listening allows me to see the areas that I need to focus on when sharing resources and providing support". The students in the schools we collaborate with are receiving much-needed support and guidance from our Wellbeing Leads when it comes to understanding, managing and reducing stress. By prioritising student wellbeing, we can help our young people thrive - through education and beyond! We also shared a blog with 3 workshop ideas to help students manage stress - head to our blogs via the link in our bio 🔗 #internationalstressawarenessweek #charity #stress #stressmanagement #mentalhealth
Little Companions 🐦🐢🦀 At Djanogly City Academy Sixth Form's Wellbeing Hub, students were busy participating in a creative workshop run by their wonderful Wellbeing Lead, Andrew. As always, the creativity shined bright as the Wellbeing Hub was filled with students' little companion creations including a Floral Turtle, Bublegoblin, Hermit Crab and Bird. You can see the wee bird companion featured during the day and at night as the student took it for a late-night walk to try to spot the recent aurora borealis! 🌠 Wellbeing Lead Andrew also participated in the workshop and created an octopus to cling to his laptop and make his desk more friendly 🐙 He shared with us: "These little companions were made using foam clay - a much lighter material than regular clay that feels spongy. It also doesn't make a mess. The workshop was intimate and fun, and students were encouraged to try and push themselves, even though they had no prior experience in modelling. What they realised was that they expected things to be much harder than they actually were. It's easy to use and students enjoyed getting creative and making small figures that they can take away with them to brighten up their days and nights." Learn more about what our Wellbeing Leads do to improve student wellbeing across the UK and Ireland via the link in our bio 🔗 #studentwellbeing #wellbeing #mentalhealth #workshop #wellbeingworkshop
Wellbeing Wednesday 🧡 Emotional resilience is the ability to adapt and bounce back from life’s challenges. Building this resilience helps us manage stress, maintain a positive outlook, and improve our overall wellbeing 🌟✨ Here are 3 ways to strengthen your emotional resilience: 🧡 Practice Self-Compassion - Be kind to yourself during difficult times. Self-compassion helps you recover more quickly and maintain a positive mindset 💖🌿 🧡 Build a Support Network - Surround yourself with supportive friends and family. Having a strong support system can provide comfort and encouragement when you need it most 🤗👥 🧡 Develop Coping Strategies - Learn and practice healthy coping mechanisms, such as mindfulness, exercise, or journaling. These strategies can help you navigate stress and build resilience 🧘‍♀️✍️ How do you build your emotional resilience? 💬 #wellbeingwednesday #wellbeing #mentalhealth #emotionalresilience
Charity Snapshot: mdeducational foundation receives an award 🏅 We are grateful to receive the McMillan Award for Ethos of @stmarysderry. We're honoured to receive such recognition and were incredibly proud to have our Senior Administrative Officer, Coleen McLaughlin, represent us and accept this award on our charity’s behalf. From our very first meeting with Principal Brendan McGinn, it was clear that student wellbeing is at the core of St Mary’s values. This shared commitment made our collaboration a perfect match. We are delighted that our support, through the school's Wellbeing Lead Emma’s dedicated work, will continue to benefit the students, helping them on their journey to a brighter future. Thank you, St Mary’s College, for this honour and your passionate commitment to prioritising student wellbeing through education and beyond 🌟 Learn more about our charity’s mission on our website via the link in our bio 🔗 #studentwellbeing #charity #nonprofit #education #wellbeing
Today, we celebrated the launch of the Wellbeing Hub at @stceciliascollegederry and proudly introduced their Wellbeing Lead, Caoimhe Watson! 🎉 Principal Mary-Jo O'Carolan opened the event by introducing the school and describing their efforts to ensure that all students are being cared for and supported to aspire, endeavour and achieve. She talked about the positive impact the Wellbeing Lead and the Wellbeing Hub together have had on their students and how this can clearly be seen from the heartening student feedback. Next, Caoimhe Watson, the school’s Wellbeing Lead, shared her journey in the role so far supporting post-16 students at the school. She’s been particularly pleased to be part of creating this welcoming safe space and continue to promote positive wellbeing to her students. As the Wellbeing Hub and her role are fully established now, she is looking forward to making an even bigger impact in supporting student wellbeing in the new academic year. Mia McDaid, Head Girl & Media Leadership Team, highlighted in her speech about the importance of the Wellbeing Hub as a peaceful haven for students and the numerous wellbeing activities helping them journey through sixth form. She expressed gratitude on behalf of her peers to the initiative for making a difference and to Caoimhe for her unwavering support. We were delighted to have Neil Guckian OBE, Health & Social Care @westernhsctrust CEO, join us as a guest speaker. He shared insights into the Trust’s work and how they deliver over 4 million interventions yearly. He also underlined the vital need for breaking the cycle of poor health in order to further support young people on their journey to adulthood. A special thanks to Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council Cllr @lilian_seenoi, staff, students and all the wonderful guests for joining us for this celebration 🎊🎈 Members of our team at mdeducational foundation, Deirdre Doherty, Director of Schools & Partnerships, and Coleen McLaughlin, Senior Administrative Officer, were as excited to be part of this brilliant day 💜 We continue to prioritise student wellbeing - Learn more via the link in our bio 🔗 #studentwellbeing #wellbeing
Sneak Peek: Getting ready for tomorrow! 👀🎈 Our team is on the ground in Northern Ireland, gearing up for an exciting launch event at @stceciliascollegederry. Caoimhe Watson, our dedicated Wellbeing Lead at the school, and Coleen McLaughlin, Senior Administrative Officer from our team have been busy today, ensuring everything is ready for a memorable day at the Wellbeing Hub 🎉 We’re thrilled to officially open the doors to the school's Wellbeing Hub and showcase the incredible impact Caoimhe has had on their students' wellbeing. Stay tuned for updates and highlights from this special event! ✨ #wellbeinghub #wellbeinglead #studentwellbeing #wellbeing #charity
Wellbeing Wednesday 🩷 Financial wellbeing is a key aspect of our overall health and happiness. Managing our finances effectively can reduce stress, increase security, and allow us to enjoy life more fully 🌟✨ Here are 3 ways to enhance your financial wellbeing: 🩷 Budget Wisely - Create a budget to track your income and expenses. This helps you manage your money better and plan for the future 📊💡 🩷 Save Regularly - Set aside a portion of your income for savings. Building a financial cushion can provide peace of mind and prepare you for unexpected expenses 💰📈 🩷 Educate Yourself - Learn about personal finance through books, courses, or financial advisors. Knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions and improve your financial health 📚🧠 How do you manage your financial wellbeing? 💬 #wellbeingwednesday #wellbeing #mentalhealth
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