Art and shared stories help Keady pupils feel less alone in grief

After losing her mum, 17-year-old Niamh found that making art with other bereaved pupils helped her feel less alone. At St Patrick’s High School in Keady, County Armagh, friendships grew around shared experiences.

Seasons of Life uses storytelling and art to help young people understand grief. School nurses, psychology staff and Cruse bereavement facilitators deliver the workshops, with further support available when needed.

Young people helped shape the programme. The project team’s 2025 presentation describes a focus group of 11 young people. They answered questions anonymously on cards before discussing them in pairs and larger groups. Paper tablecloths offered space to write or draw for those who preferred that to talking.

That design choice makes room for different ways of expressing feelings. It describes the wider programme’s development, rather than an evaluation of this Keady group.

Pupils’ accounts show personal benefits, while expansion to primary schools depends on funding. For Niamh, the lasting difference is people at school who understand what she is going through.

Sources

• BBC — Pupils describe finding support through art
• Southern Health and Social Care Trust — Seasons of Life support and artwork
• Seasons of Life project team — 2025 co-design presentation