This national men’s health week, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has teamed up with the HSE, National Office of Suicide Prevention (NOSP) and Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Helen McEntee, to announce the launch of a major project to tackle young people’s mental health in the higher education sector in Ireland.
USI will receive funding to hire a Mental Health Project Manager to conduct research in students’ mental health with a national third level mental campaign. The project, which is set to start in July, will see USI working with key stakeholders across the country in mental health to break mental health stigma, promote services and train student leaders to identify and respond to their peers’ mental health needs.
Speaking the launch of the project, USI President Annie Hoey said, “USI is proud to be partnering with the HSE, NOSP, and the Minister for Mental Health and Older People in this new exciting venture. Annually USI has run a major national third level mental health campaign, “Chats for Change” and we are excited to see the campaign develop further, while also gathering research on what students need and want from mental health services. We’re keen to discover what is the main contributing factor to one’s mental health and how the student movement can tackle those needs to best support young people and students in Ireland”.
Responding to the good news, Minister McEntee said, “We are delighted to be working more closely with USI to see this project grow. The potential of this project will allow my department identify what students need in relation to mental health. We’re looking forward to seeing how Government and the department can approach students in relation to mental health, teach resilience and promoting services. We see the USI as a key stakeholder in this and I am looking forward to the research and the campaigns to come from this collaborative project”.
USI Picture Conor McCabe Photography
The Mental Health Project Manager will integrate national level partnerships with local Students’ Unions and develop a core student-focused approach to mental health in Ireland. The project will provide ongoing advice and support to students via campaign messaging, training for student leaders and the development of workshops for students to be run out across the country in third level institutions. This project will run for 9 months.
USI will be recruiting a full-time Mental health Project Manager. Applications for the role mentioned are already live. Candidates can apply for the job here: https://usi.ie/vacancies/hiring-usi-student-mental-health-project-manager/
USI Picture Conor McCabe Photography