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RUTH SCOTT LAUNCHES USI ‘CHATS FOR CHANGE’ INITIATIVE TO GET STUDENTS TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH

Campaign launch in IT Tallaght

Today, USI launched its annual “Chats for Change” national mental health campaign to get Irish students talking about mental health with the help of celeb Ruth Scott in  IT Tallaght.

In partnership with USI, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Please Talk and Twitter, thousands of “Chats for Change” tea packs will be distributed across college campuses nationwide to facilitate open conversation of mental health.  The “Chats for Change” tea packs also include tips on taking the fear out of taking about mental health and useful support service contacts all aimed at encouraging students to make time and space to chat about their mental health while enjoying a cuppa.

The Chats for Change campus tour will include interactive and educational information stands and expert advice from Please Talk, Jigsaw, Spun Out, HSE and one to one consultations are being provided by St Patrick’s Mental Health Services.

More Talk More Action, mental health campus tour:
• Monday, November 10th –  IT Tallaght
• Tuesday, November 11th – GMIT Galway
• Wednesday, November 12th – IT Tralee
• Thursday, November 13th – Cork IT

Twitter will be hosting a Chats for Change themed webinar for students from their EMEA HQ on Thursday 13th November at 7pm to spark online conversation about mental health.

Greg O’Donoghue , USI VP for Welfare said: “”We are encouraging students to start the conversation about mental health. No matter how happy someone may seem, don’t be afraid to ask them how they are, you never know how they are feeling on the inside. We want students to take action by getting involved in activities to combat the stress and mental strains they experience. College is great fun but it can sometimes have it’s stresses too. It is important that students are aware of the wide range of support services available to them while studying like your Student Union Welfare Officer or college councilor.”.”

See Change’s Scott Ahearn said “We’re a nation of talkers and tea drinkers so why keep silent on the mental health problems that we all can go through? We’re encouraging students to make time to share a cuppa today and really ask someone how they’re doing.”

Sarah Surgenor, Communications Manager at St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services said: “Mental health issues are experienced by every family in Ireland. It’s something we all know about. ‘Chats for Change’ encourages students to begin this conversation and we’re delighted to be on hand to give mental health advice to students at various colleges throughout the country this week.”