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Date: 17/02/2020 | Ref. 831940
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland -
Monday 17th February 2020
Mandatory Credit: Darren Kidd, Press Eye
Rugby Players Ireland & Zurich Launch the New Tackle Your Feelings Schools Mental Wellbeing Programme and App 17/2/2020
Today, Rugby Players Ireland and Zurich have launched the new Tackle Your Feelings Schools mental wellbeing programme and App as part of their #ImTakingControl campaign. Pictured is Ulster and Ireland rugby player and campaign ambassador, Stuart McCloskey who is encouraging students to Take Control and proactively care for their mental wellbeing using principles from both sport and positive psychology. The new pilot progamme, which will be rolled out in multiple schools across the island of Ireland, is designed to instil a positive approach to mental health and wellbeing among young people, reducing stigma around mental health and encouraging the development of positive wellbeing habits which they can bring into adulthood.
Research commissioned by Zurich and Rugby Players Ireland, conducted by iReach across the island of Ireland, found that one in four Irish children have missed school due to issues around their mental wellbeing. However, 84% of parents agree that seeing role models like rugby players taking control of their mental wellbeing empowers their child to start talking.
Press Release
Photography available FOC from Press Eye Photography
RUGBY PLAYER STUART McCLOSKEY LAUNCHES RUGBY PLAYERS IRELAND AND ZURICH TACKLE YOUR FEELINGS SCHOOLS MENTAL WELLBEING PILOT PROGRAMME
RESEARCH REVEALS ONE IN FOUR CHILDREN ON THS ISLAND OF IRELAND HAVE MISSED SCHOOL DUE TO ISSUES AROUND THEIR MENTAL WELLBEING*
Monday, 17th February 2020: Today, Rugby Players Ireland and Zurich have launched the new Tackle Your Feelings Schools mental wellbeing pilot programme and App as part of the second phase of the #ImTakingControl campaign. Ireland & Ulster Rugby Player and campaign ambassador, Stuart McCloskey is encouraging students across the island of Ireland to Take Control and proactively care for their mental wellbeing as part of their daily routines.
The Tackle Your Feelings Take Control campaign aims to promote a proactive attitude towards mental health and to provide people with the tools to Take Control of their mental wellbeing using principles from both sport and positive psychology. The Tackle Your Feelings Schools pilot programme is classroom-based, with designated wellbeing classes running in the last term of the 2020 academic year. The programme is aimed at students around 15 years old who are about to embark on their next steps into the senior cycle of their secondary education. Multiple schools across the island of Ireland have been recruited to pilot the programme and their students will work to develop coping skills and enhance their support networks, putting them in the best position to Take Control of their mental wellbeing.
The programme is designed to instil a positive approach to mental health and wellbeing among young people, reducing stigma around mental health and encouraging the development of positive wellbeing habits which they can bring into adulthood.
Recent research, commissioned by Zurich & Rugby Players Ireland and conducted by iReach with parents across the island of Ireland revealed:
One in five parents dont believe their child understands the importance of mental wellbeing
68% of parents agreed that schools prioritise their childs physical health over their mental health
One in four children have missed school due to issues around their mental wellbeing
86% of parents believe more needs to be done in school to help their child take control of their mental wellbeing
84% of parents agree that seeing role models like rugby players taking control of their mental wellbeing empowers their child to start talking
68% of parents believe their child will be more likely to discuss the topic of mental wellbeing with their friends if they download the Tackle Your Feelings App and complete the programme
The TYF [Tackle Your Feelings] Schools App has been designed to work as part of a classroom programme with students guided through relevant resources, completing exercises which enhance their awareness and knowledge of relevant mental wellbeing topics. The App has been designed in a linear format with each resource building from the previous one, once a resource is complete, the next will unlock. There are also some unique features within the app like player videos and a custom designed game.
Commenting on the launch of the new Tackle Your Feelings Schools pilot programme, Ireland and Ulster Rugby Player & campaign ambassador Stuart McCloskey said: Im delighted to be an ambassador for the Tackle Your Feelings Schools pilot programme and App. When I reflect on my own school experiences I can really see how students in school now would benefit from a programme like Tackle Your Feelings. It is important for students to acknowledge when theyre feeling down and not let those feelings consume them. I firmly believe that talking to friends and family is not a weakness, it just makes them aware of how youre feeling and being in a good place mentally and emotionally enables you to excel in all aspects of life!
Anthony Brennan, CEO, Zurich Ireland said: We at Zurich are delighted to support this schools pilot programme for Tackle Your Feelings with Rugby Players Ireland. The research shows that seeing role models like rugby players taking control of their mental wellbeing empowers all of us to start talking, across schools and wider society. We believe the new schools pilot programme and App will encourage students to be more proactive when it comes to minding their own mental health and wellbeing and help to incorporate mental wellbeing into their daily routine.
Tackle Your Feelings, Campaign Manager, RPI, Hannah McCormack, said: Were excited to launch the Tackle Your Feelings schools pilot programme and App as part of the #ImTakingControl campaign, supported by Zurich. This pilot programme aims to break down stigma and encourage students to become more proactive about looking after their mental wellbeing. We are delighted to have Stuart McCloskey on board as an ambassador for the campaign, he recognises that as a rugby player he has the power to inspire young people and help to destigmatise mental wellbeing. There is also a chance for parents to become part of the TYF community and keep up to date on the latest Tackle Your Feelings news by downloading the App and following Tackle Your Feelings on Instagram.
Tackle Your Feelings is an innovative and unique approach to breaking down stigma around emotional wellbeing. Built on a foundation of diversity and inclusion, the campaign encompasses the whole island of Ireland and features some of Irelands most loved rugby players leading from the front, opening up about their own mental wellbeing challenges and the strategies they used to overcome them, so that young people of Ireland can follow their lead.
Since its launch in 2016, Tackle Your Feelings has impacted the lives of people all over the world, with campaign content being viewed in excess of 23 million times. TYF has motivated people 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 Rugbys HeadFirst campaign and Tackle Your Feelings Australia, a collaboration between Zurich Australia, the AFLPA and AFLCA.
For more information on Tackle Your Feelings follow the Instagram account @tyf or visit the website www.tackleyourfeelings.com which will share videos, updates on events and competitions.
ENDS
For further details please contact:
Anne Smyth
07966402460 / aperrysmyth@gmail.com
Editors Notes
About Rugby Players Ireland:
Rugby Players Ireland, as the representative body for Irelands professional rugby players, consistently strives to make Ireland the best place in the world to play rugby. Rugby Players Ireland is working towards achieving this vision by ensuring that player welfare is always prioritized and that there are fair and equitable terms and conditions for players. The association also adopts a whole of life approach to player development and ensures that the profile enjoyed by Irelands rugby players contributes to the future development not just of Irish rugby but Irish society as a whole.
For more information log on to www.rugbyplayersireland.ie or on Twitter https://twitter.com/RugbyPlayersIRE
About Zurich:
Zurich is one of Irelands leading insurance companies providing a wide range of general insurance and life insurance products and services. The company employs over 1,000 people across its locations in Dublin and Wexford.
Zurich in Ireland is part of Zurich Insurance Group, a leading multi-line insurer that serves its customers in global and local markets. With about 55,000 employees, it provides a wide range of property and casualty, and life insurance products and services in more than 215 countries and territories. Zurichs customers include individuals, small businesses, and mid-sized and large companies, as well as multinational corporations. The Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1872.
www.zurich.ie
*The survey was conducted by iReach Insights on behalf of Zurich and Rugby Players Ireland for Tackle Your Feelings Take Control campaign. The research was conducted on the Island of Ireland and received 853 responses. Fieldwork was undertaken between 24th Januaryand 30th January 2020 using the iReach Consumer Decisions All Island Omnibus. This delivered a high-level statistical accuracy across ROI and NI and provides a confidence level of + or 2.5% at a 95% confidence interval.