Ms Tami O'Leary:

I am a sixth-year student in the Cork Life Centre. In my mainstream school, mental health was rarely mentioned. I remember a plaque on the wall and an amber flag to do with promoting good mental health. I do not know how the school got them as they did not seem to have any impact on day-to-day life or my time there. I experienced the same lack of understanding as Ryan. They knew I was not mentally well; they reduced my timetable. When I could not cope, I would hide in the bathroom. This was judged as bad behaviour and, as a punishment, I was put back on a full timetable. At senior cycle, the leaving certificate was mentioned in every class: "Learn this off to get maximum points", "This is what you must know." College was regarded as the only option. Gap years, trades, apprenticeships and jobs were not seen as an option. We were like machines directed to memorise and reproduce as much material as we could. Sometimes, if you had stuff going on, your attention might have drifted to that in class. You could be singled out and targeted by the teacher in front of others. It was never acknowledged openly but, for me, it was clear that exam results and points were the priority to the exclusion of all else, including mental health.

There are many areas where schools can improve their mental health supports, from providing counsellors to improving the small day-to-day interactions. My dad was called many times about my mental health. No one ever said something to me. When I moved to the Life Centre, my old school contacted my dad and said it would hate to think I would not reach my full potential. Mental health is not a priority in some schools, despite what their flags, plaques or websites say.

The small things we do at school level need to be looked at by professionals before being rolled out. For example, Food Dudes was a programme run to promote healthy eating. While the aim may have been good, at a time when I suffered from an eating disorder, I did not need a programme that focused on how much I had eaten and whether I had exercised that day.

In summary, we think schools need counsellors. A check-in for each student with a nominated teacher or guidance counsellor should happen at stages during the year. Teachers need more training in mental health. Many are scared to be told about mental health issues. They need to know how to hear what young people are saying and help them find the appropriate service. Exam results can no longer be the sole factor in evaluating success in school and a young person's worth. A system that prioritises results will never be able to fully support the mental health that is an integral part of the process.