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Getting the 'HeadsUp' on College Support Services
Headsup Text, the text support service operated by Rehab
and supported by Meteor, has today (Thursday,6th November) announced
details of an expansion of its service to include a list of student
support services available at 26 colleges nationwide. The new service
is being launched to coincide with the Union of Students in Ireland's
Mental Health Awareness week, which runs from 10th November 2008.
From Letterkenny to Tralee, students will now, at the touch
of a button, be able to access a full list of helpline
numbers and support services that are available on their own college
campuses,
including students' union offices, college counsellors,
chaplaincies and access offices.
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) represents over
250,000 students throughout Ireland. While for most
of these students, college life can provide wonderful opportunities
and experiences, for
others it can be a time of stress and isolation.
HeadsUp Text, a free and confidential 24-hour text
support service, gives access to helplines and support
services on a range of topics for young people in difficulty,
including relationships,
alcohol, drugs, suicide, teen issues and mental health.
The inclusion of student services means that a comprehensive
list of these services available at colleges nationwide
can now be accessed free of charge by all mobile
phone users on all networks by
simply texting the word "Headsup" to 50424 and
selecting the "Student Services" option.
Collette Ryan, HeadsUp Project Manager, comments:
"College can be a fantastic experience. You get
to meet new friends and explore new horizons.
But going to college,
can represent a crossroads
in a
person's life and it can be a particularly difficult
time for students, whether they have concerns
over their grades, personal relationships,
money or decisions about their future. That is
why it is crucial that students know that they
can turn to Headsup, when
they need it most,
for information and support, whether it is for
themselves, or for a friend in trouble. This
new addition to the HeadsUp Text service means
that we are combining national help and support
services
with local on-the-ground services in colleges.
"
Commenting on the service, Amanda Carroll, Meteor's
Head of Communications said, "The Headsup text
service helps to create communication between
young people and the
support groups that can help them with
any issues they may be experiencing".
We welcome the opportunity to support Rehab
with the expansion of this valuable communications
resource for young people" she added.
Welcoming the new service, Anthony Muldoon,
Welfare Officer, Union of Students in Ireland,
said: "Going to college brings huge changes
to students' lives and sometimes these can be overwhelming.
The
inclusion of student services on Headsup
Text gives students another opportunity
to find help on their
campuses
when they need
it. Student
services
are there for students and have their interests
at heart. Help is at hand for any student
who needs
it."
In addition to a listing of student services
at colleges nationwide, HeadsUp Text
also features the Samaritans, AL Anon, Aware,
Women's Aid, Childline,
MABS
and
Bodywhys, amongst others.
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