Brendan Slattery

New research, The Perfect Storm 2026 found that 38 per cent of boys aged 16 to 19 report that they are struggling, up sharply from 24 per cent of boys aged 12 to 15. Despite mounting pressures, including exam stress, financial worries and anxiety about the future, three in four boys said they would not seek mental health support.

The findings point to a generation of boys conditioned toward stoicism and emotional suppression. Boys who took part in the research described feeling pressure to appear tough, self-sufficient and emotionally controlled, even while struggling. One 15-year-old participant said: “I’ve got it from my dad. He never shows emotion. I kind of got it from him, to just hide.”

MARK creates structured, facilitated spaces in which boys can explore their values, their experiences and the pressures they face, helping them notice the influences shaping them and supporting them to choose how they want to express themselves.

McCann FitzGerald’s involvement in MARK is led by partner Brendan Slattery. The firm’s support builds on four years of backing for The Shona Project’s original girls’ programme, Shona, which McCann FitzGerald continues to support.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr Slattery, said: “As a firm, we have always been committed to empowering people to be at their best. Supporting the next generation is part of what it means to lead in this market. We’ve backed The Shona Project’s work with girls for four years, and MARK is a natural, ambitious next step. We’re proud to put our name and resources behind a programme that will deliver meaningful impact for thousands of boys choosing the mark they want to make on the world.”

Tammy Darcy, founder and CEO of The Shona Project, said: “We know that boys need honest spaces where they can think and talk without judgement, and that’s the reason we have developed MARK.  Having a partner like McCann FitzGerald behind it from an early stage means we can bring that space to boys across the country, making a real impact to their lives.”

The programme’s core offering is a 90-minute, single-session workshop built to develop critical reflection, emotional literacy and agency through active participation.

Results from the pilot phase have been strong. Across 17 schools and organisations in six regions of Ireland, 72 per cent of participants reported a better understanding of the pressures facing boys today, 69 per cent learned something new about how thoughts and influences shape them, and 94 per cent said they felt comfortable taking part. Nine of the twelve teachers surveyed rated the programme as very relevant to their students.