Tipperary Jigsaw address the Elephant in the Room

The team in Jigsaw Tipperary welcomed Rocky the Elephant into their hub for a 2-month stay as part of the Elephant in the Room Movement and to highlight the Light It Up Tipperary website, which aims to bring together an easy accessible list of all public and private support services available in Tipperary.

The Elephant in the Room Movement is a social enterprise which started in Ireland. The movement brings business, art and community together to help change the narrative around mental well-being all over the world, using the visual medium of art sculptures to challenge stigma of all kinds.

The movement promotes a message of hope and kindness, and encourages open conversation about mental health in schools, workplaces and our communities.

Cashel Community School are the first secondary school in Ireland to take part in the movement and Rocky is the first elephant in Co. Tipperary.

This project is a collaboration with local community sponsors and students who are participants in the Young Social Innovator Programme in Transition Year and the school’s Amber Team which promotes positive mental health.

We are indebted to our amazing local artist Damien Mc Caron for his guidance and talent throughout this journey.

My name is Rocky the Elephant I am a symbol of HOPE in Cashel Co. Tipperary. Cashel Community School students worked in collaboration with the Elephant in The Room movement and local businesses to make this project a reality. I have many symbols that I want you to understand. 
My bright yellow colour is a symbol of HOPE. The Rock of Cashel iconic in its historic and religious significance is my central symbol. I am so proud to be the first elephant of HOPE in Co. Tipperary.

There are beautiful wild Irish flowers on my legs reminding you of the importance of nature to our wellbeing. I also have symbols of sport, dance and music reminding us how vital it is to have hobbies and enjoy new challenges regardless of our age.

I have a megaphone symbol which is on my ear this is reminding everybody that asking for help is always a sign of strength. There is a QR code that can be scanned with lots of information if anybody needs the contact details of all the supports available in Tipperary. We would like to thank Light It Up Tipperary for allowing us to share this QR code.

I have a Sanskrit symbol representing the breath and a pair of hands on my forehead symbolising community and friendship.  I have a large heart symbol on my ear, reminding us of the important of being kind to ourselves and to others. 

We would like to thank Damien McCarron the artist who helped us design and paint Rocky, we are so grateful for his help, guidance and dedication.