Gallery – Pieces of Us

A good thing about being a child in Ireland is school, hobbies, friends and family

Vote for diversity. Women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ, rural, Travelling community

Feelings/emotions: Rejected. Disruption. Unhappy. Disrespected. Hopeless. Lost. Gloom. Trouble. Anger. Disappointed. Heartbroken. Complicated. Unhappy. Stress. Miserable. Lonely.

This is a drawing of mammy in the centre of the sun and daddy who is in Portugal.

A bad thing about being a child in Ireland is bullying not being dealt with and not being listened to.

A bad thing about being child in Ireland is mental health supports for younger children.

Child: ‘School is really stressing me out. I don’t know what to do. My mental health is at an all-time low. I have no one to talk to. I feel so alone.’ Guidance Counsellor: ‘Have you tried colouring and busying yourself? You have to do well so endure it. You’ll be fine when you graduate.’ Guidance counsellors are not trained Mental Health Professionals. So do not treat them as such and begin to hire them in schools. Kids need them or their issues which can’t be spoken out loud.

A bad thing about being a child in Ireland is homophobia.

A bad thing about being a child in Ireland is homophobia and transphobia. “It’s like I have to prove something”. No one is going to come out for the fun of it. What exactly would prove they are part of the LGBTQIA+ community? Especially when many people are going to have a negative reaction. People asking for proof is more directed at trans people, imo [in my opinion] but other that the fact that they have nothing to prove, getting an official diagnosis eats money and if under 16, one would need a parent and they may not be out to their parent.

A bad thing about being a child in Ireland is bullying

A thing that I want to change about being a child in Ireland is that homeless people have houses.

A good thing about being a child in Ireland is that I can play.

A good thing about being a child in Ireland is that I can walk to the park.

A bad thing about being a child in Ireland is racism.

There is an expectation that primary school is always innocent and colourful for everyone – and it can be so isolating when that is not your experience. Children, especially from 4th-6th class can have huge struggles with mental health, yet mental health isn’t even addressed in primary schools. You can suffer without even knowing why. Children would benefit so much from being taught about mental health issues – not sugar coated. Children’s therapists and counsellors need to be more available.

A things that I would change about being a child in Ireland are littering, crime, more sports and more affordable houses.

A bad thing about being a child in Ireland is a lack of mental health supports. Carol (Online Therapist) Child: I have been feeling really low. I’m here to talk and seek help and guidance. Child: Can you guide me. Therapist: Well what is causing the problem? Child: I don’t really feel comfortable speaking about family. Child: Or school. It upsets me. Therapist: Well I can’t help if you don’t tell me the issue. Therapist: If you came here to mess around I have other clients. Child: I didn’t come to mess. I need help, I just can’t. Therapist: Then I suggest you speak to family. Carol has left the chat.

A good thing about being a child in Ireland is that you get to go to school and meet new people to play with.

A good thing about being a child in Ireland is learning and playing.

A bad thing about being a child in Ireland is homophobia.

The education system should serve young people and our wellbeing. It’s a rote learning points race when we should have room for creativity, for us to think differently and have opinions. I think that would serve a more diverse range of students.

Isolated, Loneliness, Depression.

The bad things about being a child in Ireland are the weather, work, litter, roadmen, chavs, joyridders and drug dealers. There isn't enough to do, there is no basketball and there are too many chippers.

A good thing about being a child in Ireland is the animals.