PleaseTalk

We’re right in the middle of the Green Ribbon campaign for the month of May, to get Ireland talking about mental health. Let’s get this conversation started, right?

A hundred ways to ask “How are you?” But, there’s only one way to answer; “Grand”. That’s us, that’s the Irish way apparently.

Encouraging conversation

With, Pleasetalk.org, ReachOut.com, and campaigns like Green Ribbon, we try to encourage conversation, get a dialogue going about mental health. But by the same token, we need to make sure we know how and when to listen.

Most of us recognise that talking about tough times is important. Getting things out in the open can be the best thing for you. Don’t bottle things up. But, who you open up to and how you do it is equally as important.

Who you talk to

Talking doesn’t have to be about going to see a counsellor or a doctor, though great if you can. It’s not an option for a lot of us. It can be expensive or there maybe none near you. You may have had a bad experience with one, or you just didn’t feel you could open up to them. It happens.

Family or friends can be just as helpful. So we can also be support for our friends and family. Therefore, how we are when someone opens up to us is very important.

How to listen

You could be the first person your friend or family member approach when going through something tough and so you need to be as understanding as possible. There are useful ways to listen to someone to make them feel heard and understood.

If someone tells you at three in the morning after a rake of drinks that they’ve been struggling a bit recently, you could be the first person they’ve told. Acknowledge it, but, maybe suggest talking about it again, when you’re able to take it in better and give them the time.

Clear expression

There are effective ways to communicate that we all could do with knowing, to make sure we all express ourselves clearly. Remember, it can also be quite overwhelming when someone opens up to you for the first time, so make sure you look after yourself too.

Let’s get everyone talking about mental health and let’s be ready and know how to listen.

This year’s forum will take place on Friday, 14 June 2013.

The theme for this year will be ‘PleaseTalk: you, me and our mental health’ with the highlight of the day focusing on a panel discussion on ‘opportunities and challenges in promoting mental health in third level’.

Where:

We’re delighted to be hosting the event at DIT Kevin Street, Dublin 8 from 10.00 - 16.00 with lunch provided.

For more information contact [email protected].

The Union of Students in Ireland has partnered with HeadsUp.ie, ReachOut.com, and PleaseTalk.org to launch Mental Health Awareness Week 2012.

This national campaign will be launched in the National College of Ireland (NCI), St Angela’s College Sligo and Institute of Technology Tralee on Monday, 12 November  at 12pm and will be run in colleges across the country.

What makes you smile?

The theme for the campaign this year is positive mental health and the promotion of support services available to students and young people. The tagline of the campaign is ‘What Makes You Smile?’

The campaign aims to tackle the increasingly negative outlook that many students have, due to financial stress and other factors, by asking them to identify and value the smaller things in life that make us smile and impact positively on our mental health and well-being.

Student packs

Thousands of packs will be distributed to colleges across the country, incorporating the ‘What Makes You Smile?’ theme. The pack includes a postcard, a HeadsUp pen, and a ReachOut.com/PleaseTalk.org bookmark. It is hoped that this pack will encourage students to express what it is that gets them through college during difficult times and what makes them smile.

Twitter competition: #WhatMakesYouSmile – join the conversation and tweet a picture of what makes you smile to be in with a chance of winning a ‘Feel Good’ hamper.

Partnering with mental health organisations

Denise McCarthy, USI Vice President for Welfare said: “The mental health of Ireland’s young people is more important than ever, as students and families face increasing financial stress. This campaign is about helping our members to identify the small things that can make their college days easier. We’re also encouraging students who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health to avail of college support services. We are delighted to partner with mental health organisations that will help spread the message of this campaign across Ireland.”

Collette Ryan, of HeadsUp said: “HeadsUp is delighted to be a partner once again in the development of the USI Mental Health pack. The theme ‘What Makes You Smile?’ fits perfectly with HeadsUp’s activities, in particular our ‘Online Skills’ and ‘Acts of Random Kindness’ available on www.headsup.ie. Sometimes it’s the little things in life that can have such a positive impact. We want students to take the time to look at, look for, appreciate and spread acts of random kindness that can put a smile on other peoples’ faces.”

Nigel O’Callaghan, Community Engagement Officer with ReachOut.com said: “Promoting the messages that talking is a sign of strength and to reach out if you’re going through a tough time is vital to ensure nobody is left to feel alone. We are encouraging students to address any difficulties or challenges they may face before those difficulties potentially lead to crisis. We know services such as ReachOut.com and PleaseTalk.org work because they are delivered online – and online is where young people go for mental health information and support.”

How PleaseTalk began and grew to be on nearly every college campus in Ireland, north and south in five years. - .