FOUR SCHOOLS FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH

FOUR Wexford schools will pilot a unique play and workshop this month that shines a light on the issue of mental health.

Coláiste Bríde in Enniscorthy, Bridgetown College, Colaiste Abbain in Adamstown and FCJ Bunclody are rolling out the project between Monday, November 14, and Thursday, November 24. The initiative is part of the Discover Recover theatre project.

Supported by Wexford Mental Health Association, the play ‘A Face in the Crowd’ tells the true stories of what it is like to live with mental illness. Its school productions come on the back of a successful run in Wexford Arts Centre earlier this year, where it had four sold-out shows. Now it has been adapted for secondary school students to bring about awareness of the students’ mental health, teach them to seek support and let them know that recovery is possible.

As well as seeing the play, the students will then be invited to partake in a post play workshop, hosted by project co-ordinator Paula Lowney, occupational therapist Mairead Connaughton and retired mental health nurse Niall Ó Muirí.

The Discover Recover theatre project, which started in February 2015, was the brain child of Paula Lowney an OT currently working in the Wexford Mental Health Services. It initially started with a story telling group, where people with a lived experience of mental health difficulties were invited along to tell their story and share their experiences of recovery. This cumulated in the development of a script and the production of the play ‘A Face in the Crowd’.

Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy, hosted the play last week, along with Bridgetown College. Colaiste Abainn in Adamstown will play host to the play today (November 22), while FCJ Bunclody will bring it to the school stage this Thursday November 24.