When Gayle Grass graduated from Royal Holloway with a Master's degree in Victorian Art and Architecture (1994), she never imagined her career would lead her to creating Iris the Dragon, a children's mental health education resource that would go on to reach readers around the world.

Iris the Dragon is a registered charity and producer of unique resources for schools and workplaces that educate audiences about the importance of good mental health and mental health concerns. With over a decade of experience, its mission has been to provide educational material for adults and young readers that can facilitate conversations about various mental health conditions, mental wellness and inclusion in a non-threatening manner. The organisation is based in Perth, Ontario, Canada and its print and digital publications are used worldwide.

Over the past two decades, Gayle has developed books and educational resources designed to help children understand and talk about their emotions.In recognition of her work, she was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada for her contributions to mental health education. We spoke to Gayle about her journey, the inspiration behind Iris the Dragon, and what the honour means to her.

What inspired you to create Iris the Dragon?

"Iris began with a very simple idea: how do you help a child understand something that is frightening, confusing or difficult to put into words?

"I wanted to create a character children could trust. Iris wasn't intended to lecture children or tell them what was wrong with them. She was there to listen, to reassure them and to help them understand that difficult feelings and experiences could be talked about."

Looking back, what are you most proud of achieving?

"What makes me proudest is that Iris has actually helped children.

"What matters most to me is knowing that a child has read one of the stories and felt understood, or that the books have helped a parent, teacher or professional begin a conversation with a child that otherwise might have been difficult."

Have there been any moments that have particularly stayed with you?

"There have been many. One special-education teacher told me that when her students were uncertain about how to handle a situation, she would ask them, 'What would Iris do?'

"That has always stayed with me because it meant Iris had become more than a character in a book. She had become a reference point for children, a way of thinking about kindness, empathy, choices and how we treat one another."

What did receiving the Meritorious Service Medal mean to you?

"It was an extraordinary honour, and I was deeply moved by it.

"I don't regard it simply as recognition of me personally; I see it as recognition of what Iris has achieved and of the importance of helping children understand and talk about their mental health."

Looking ahead, what are your hopes for Iris the Dragon?

"My hope is for Iris to reach a new generation of children.

"I would particularly like to see the world of Iris developed for animation, allowing the characters and the Riverbank world to reach children internationally."

Reflecting on her time at Royal Holloway, Gayle notes the connection between her academic studies and her later work, bringing together writing, design, education and social purpose. More than twenty years after creating Iris, her mission remains unchanged: helping children feel heard, understood and hopeful. Congratulations to Gayle on this well-deserved recognition and on the remarkable impact she continues to make through her work in children's mental health education.