The distinctive feature of Catholic education is forming students “in the image and likeness of God”, according to a newly published document.

Speaking to The Irish Catholic, the National Director for Catechetics, Dr Alex O’Hara said that ‘Wellbeing and the Catholic School’ reaffirms the view that schools should be concerned with “the holistic education of the whole person in the image and likeness of God”.

“We’re giving guidance on how you might structure the 400 hours of wellbeing that students have to do at junior cycle and ensuring that the mandatory two hours of religious education in primary and in post-primary a week are not further eroded.

The document also touches on some of the more sensitive issues that have emerged among young people, namely anxiety and suicide, and how to respond to them.

“It also acknowledges the challenges, particularly for young people in terms of anxiety and it’s responding to that,” he said.

“It’s worth remembering that significant research in Ireland and other countries has demonstrated that religious belief and practise are positively associated with good mental health and reduced depression and other aspects of wellbeing.”