Student mental health campaign unveiled

The Union of Students in Ireland has unveiled a new campaign aimed at raising awareness of mental health among young people.

Mental Health Awareness Week will run from November 9th until November 13th. As part of the campaign, USI will distribute a mental health awareness pack in third level colleges throughout the country.

The pack, which was created specifically for students, includes information on suicide, depression, self-harm, and alcohol and the effects it can have. The information pack also tries to dispel some of the myths about mental health issues.

“At least one in four of us will suffer some form of mental health difficulty during our lifetime. Because of this, it is vitally important that we learn to look after our own mental health and that of those around us," USI welfare officer Ciaran Fitzpatrick said.

He said mental health awareness was more of an issue this year as many students faced increasing financial worries, including delayed grants. "With the economic situation, a lot of students are feeling pressure and anxiety," he said.

As part of the event, Meteor and Rehab have joined forces with USI to provide a text service to students offering information on support services in their colleges.

Separately, a survey on bullying in the third level sector, which Mr Fitzpatrick said is the first of its kind, will be undertaken in conjunction with Trinity College Dublin.