ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM SCHOOLS PROGRAMME
MENTAL WELLBEING INITIATIVE FOR SCHOOLS
Supporting young people’s mental wellbeing through prevention, early intervention and open dialogue.
Suitable for Primary (KS1 & 2), Secondary (KS3 & 4) & Further (Post-16) levels UK
Suitable for Primary (1st – 6th Class) & Secondary (Junior Cycle, Transition Year & Senior Cycle) levels Ireland.
Elephant in the Room is a social movement that uses art sculptures, educational activities & lessons along with other teaching resources and supports to spark open, honest conversations about mental health. At the core is our Elephant in the Room Schools Programme, a wellbeing framework co-created with educators and psychologists, which is designed to support young people’s mental health through prevention, early intervention and open dialogue. Founded by Brent Pope and Eoin Byrne in 2021, the movement has grown from a grassroots idea into a global initiative, and thanks to the generous support of the Kyne Foundation and other local and international partners, the elephant sculptures and associated wellbeing resources are donated at no cost to Secondary and Primary schools. The Elephant in the Room Schools Programme can become a focal point for creative expression, kindness campaigns, and student-led mental health initiatives and the art activity element of this project can help some young people express complex emotions that they may not otherwise be able to verbalise. This programme is available to schools who have appropriate mental wellbeing resources in place along with the in-house capabilities to run a student art competition and then design, paint and launch their own elephant artwork as a visible symbol of hope, permission, and care and as part of their overall efforts to support early conversations about wellbeing.
NOTE FROM ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Everyone has an ‘Elephant in the Room’, and this initiative is about starting conversations early before they develop into larger issues impacting students’ wellbeing. It’s also about encouraging kindness — we never know what someone else might be going through in their day or life. Many young people only seek mental health support at a crisis stage, so early intervention in schools is vital. We need to normalise discussions around mental health and make it a daily priority, just like physical health. This initiative aims to give young people better tools to navigate life’s challenges, particularly within the school environment, while fostering a culture of inclusion and care.
Brent Pope
NOTE FROM THE KYNE FOUNDATION
Fostering mental wellbeing awareness in schools creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond the classroom. It is essential for building a more connected and empathetic society. By providing Elephant in the Room with resources for this initiative, we aim to empower students and teachers to support each other and engage in meaningful conversations that inspire a culture of compassion and understanding.
Jacqueline Kyne
Co-Founder of the
Kyne Foundation
NOTE FROM OUR DEDICATED SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER & WELLBEING COORDINATOR
The elephant has a way of bypassing stigma and allowing students to engage with mental health topics in a nonthreatening, creative way. Whether through guided discussions with teachers, reflection prompts, or peer conversations, the elephant can make talking about mental health more natural. Ellie is a visually striking piece in the heart of our school, “Croí na Scoile”, and has been a great conversation starter among students as they are encouraged to talk about their feelings and to support one another. I have seen positive steps in how students approach discussions around mental wellbeing, and the Elephant in the Room initiative has been a wonderful addition to our school community. An elephant sculpture won’t transform mental health issues, but art can get us to places where we can’t get to any other way, one conversation at a time.
Susan Andrews Assistant Principal and Wellbeing Coordinator at Temple Carrig School, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
- SCHOOL PRINCIPLE OVERVIEW
