Debunking the Myths Awarded Discovery Grant to Advance Teen Sexual Health Education

RCSI Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, in collaboration with the Rotunda Hospital, is delighted to announce renewed funding to continue “Debunking the Myths: The Science Behind Our Sexual Health” into 2026–2027. Research Ireland have once again awarded us with their Discovery Grant and we are overwhelmed and are eternally grateful for their support of the programme. 

This latest round of support ensures that Debunking can continue its mission to empower young people across Ireland with evidence‑based, medically accurate, and youth‑centred sexual and reproductive health education. 

In an era where misinformation spreads rapidly online, the continued investment in Debunking underlines the growing national need for trusted, expert‑led health literacy initiatives. The 2026–2027 programme will build on the success of previous years by expanding its suite of workshops, strengthening digital campaigns, enhancing school resources, and deepening collaborations with clinicians, youth organisations, students and educators. 

Across 2024–2025, Debunking reached thousands of young people nationwide through in‑person workshops, virtual delivery, youth‑led digital campaigns, and extensive media engagement. Workshops co‑designed with young people and delivered by leading healthcare professionals helped tackle complex and often taboo topics such as menstruation, fertility, contraception, relationships, consent, STIs, and online misinformation.  

The new funding cycle will expand these efforts, placing a renewed focus on: 

• Enhanced youth‑led design, ensuring content continues to reflect the lived experiences and evolving questions of Irish teenagers. 

• Strengthened teacher supports, including improved signposting, updated resource banks, and ready‑to‑use classroom materials. 

• New digital content, produced in collaboration with clinical experts, addressing emerging trends such as AI‑driven misinformation, online misogyny, and sexual health myths circulating on social media. 

• Greater inclusion of underserved groups, including Youthreach centres and schools with limited access to external supports. 

• Improved parent‑focused and community engagement opportunities, strengthening whole‑community approaches to sexual health literacy. 

Debunking continues to grow and strengthen its role in youth sexual health education, offering clinically informed, youth‑shaped workshops designed for accessibility and inclusion. The team looks forward to further developing the programme and connecting with additional schools, Youthreaches and communities in 2026–2027. We will also reach our 20,000th student goal in early 2026! 

For more information or to contact the team, visit www.debunkingthemyths.ie or follow us on Instagram, and TikTok @debunkingmyths_, or email debunkingthemyths@rcsi.ie.