An art project has helped approximately 100 school children in counties Armagh and Tyrone process grief and loss. Teenagers who participated in the 'Seasons of Life' workshops reported that creating art and talking to peers made them more comfortable discussing their feelings.
Niamh, 17, a pupil at St Patrick's High School in Keady, County Armagh, stated the experience helped her become more resilient and comfortable expressing her feelings after losing her mother. Joe, a Year 10 pupil, also found it beneficial to discuss his feelings without judgment following the loss of his aunt.
The workshops, run by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, encourage young people to explore signs of grief through storytelling and art. Dr Sinead Hannan, Assistant Head of Psychology Services at the Southern Trust, highlighted that bereavement is a public health issue, noting that 80% of children needing psychological intervention for grief do not access it.
Glennis Doherty, Vice Principal at St. Patrick's High School, said the project had an immeasurable impact, helping pupils understand that feelings like conflict, anxiety, and loss are normal, much like the seasons. The students' final artwork, a large mixed-media collage, is now displayed in the corridors of St Patrick's High School.