|
Get Online to Get the Headsup.ie on Positive Mental Health
- Graffiti artist, Maser, and Celebrity Friends Lend Support
to Rehab's Positive Mental Health Initiative For Young People -
Graffiti sensation, Maser, chart-toppers The Blizzards,
comedienne Maeve Higgins and Sophie Merry of You Tube
'Groovy Dancing Girl' fame, today, Monday, 10th November, launched
www.headsup.ie,
the new interactive website for HeadsUp, Rehab's mental
health promotion project. The website has been developed with the direction
of a panel
of youth advisors and will enable young people to find
out about mental health issues, promote positive mental health and
provide information
and support to those in need. The site includes a host
of cutting-edge features including Mind Gym with lots of interactive
games, Self Help
modules and 'Art from the Heart', along with discussion
forums, information on support services, well-being tips, and fact
sheets, and reviews
and competitions.
To mark the launch, Ireland's best-known graffiti artist,
Maser, has designed a Headsup.ie graffiti wall that
will be on display in the windows of Filmbase, Temple Bar, from Monday
10th – Friday 14th
November. Along with The Blizzards and Maeve Higgins,
some secondary school students got their hands dirty
to help Maser
complete the graffiti
wall while Sophie Merry aka 'Groovy Dancing Girl' kept
them entertained with her funky moves.
Speaking at the unveiling of the graffiti artwork,
Collette Ryan, Project Manager of HeadsUp commented:
"Eight out of 10, 15-24 year olds use the internet , with www.headsup.ie,
we
are providing
young people with the facility to share their worries,
difficulties and stresses. In addition to providing
information on support services,
headsup.ie will promote positive mental health and
mental health awareness through its extensive Self
Help modules,
games and
forum discussions."
Graffiti artist, Maser, commented on the initiative:
"Young people appreciate street art; they can relate
to it. Graffiti is the
art of a generation and a positive art form that
young people can associate with. I am delighted
to be able to use this medium to let people know
about Headsup.ie, a very worthwhile and necessary
project for young people in Ireland today."
The website has a host of features, and the Self
Help section, where young people can go to improve
their everyday life skills and
take control of their lives, is unique to any
Irish website and is a proven and effective resource
based on Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy.
There are a range of modules available, including
anxiety control training, helpful and unhelpful
behaviours, noticing and changing unhelpful thinking,
assertiveness, practical problem-solving, how
to sleep better, healthy living and staying well.
'Art from the Heart', an imaginative feature
on the website, where visitors are invited
to express their innermost thoughts through art, was also featured
at the launch. Guests, students and the celebrities
were encouraged to create a piece of art of
their own
design which will be available to view on www.headsup.ie.
This aspect of the website
is designed to get young people to express
themselves and 'get things off their chests' in a creative
manner.
'Mind Gym', Headsup.ie's dedicated games section,
offers users a series of brain fitness games,
as research has shown that these types of
computer games can
be beneficial for mental
well-being. Factsheets
on the website will provide information on
various mental health topics including eating
disorders, depression and schizophrenia,
while the
moderated discussion forums will afford opportunities
to chat with fellow members. 'Things that
annoy you' and 'Things that make me feel
good' are just some of the current topics.
The
website will also regularly feature reviews
of films, gigs and events, designed to encourage
young people to use headsup.ie as an information
resource.
Other HeadsUp initiatives include HeadsUp
Text, a free and confidential 24-hour text
service, supported by Meteor, which provides young
people with details of a range of helplines
and support services.
Organisations such as the Samaritans, AL
Anon, Aware and Bodywhys, are among the
many support services
listed which can be accessed by
texting HEADSUP to 50424.
The HeadsUp training programme ASIST (Applied
Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
equips people with the knowledge and the ability
to recognise the warning signs of suicidal
behaviour. HeadsUp also encompasses "Lifeskills",
a course
aimed at enhancing young
people's skills and
abilities in dealing with life's ups
and downs and "Raising Boys for Fathers", a
parenting
programme which helps fathers to improve
their
communication skills with their sons
in dealing with life's problems.
|
