Newsletter - Summer 2011
Printer-friendly version
Think Big & Share a Happy Thought CampaignSummer has arrived and here’s our newly designed newsletter. Enjoy. When a young man, Ethan, from Schull, Co. Cork, saw a poster hanging on his school notice board asking him to make a difference to young people’s mental health he took on the challenge. His aim to make his school a more positive environment. He applied to Think Big last November with a simple idea to promote random acts of kindness and to post positive and inspiring messages around his school. |
|
Also in this Issue
|
|
 |
|
Message from the Founder Director |
|
|
Jigsaw Galway has moved to an amazing location just off Eyre Square, which previously housed the Habitat store. It’s a bright modern building with loads of space, easily accessible and youth-friendly. We congratulate John Fitzmaurice and his fantastic Jigsaw team in having achieved widespread support for this project, and for having won the trust and respect of young people throughout Co Galway. |
 |
|
|
Jigsaw – the evolution of the Jigsaw Hub |
|
|
Headstrong is entering a critical stage of development with the recent announcement of Government support to establish a further five Jigsaw programmes around the country. This has come at a time when greater clarity has been reached on the importance of developing Jigsaw Hubs. The Hubs ensure that young people can obtain information and person-centred support in an accessible setting which is youth friendly. |
 |
|
|
Jigsaw Learning Network (JLN) |
|
|
The opening of the new Jigsaw Galway Hub coincided nicely with the scheduled Jigsaw Learning Network. This took place in the new premises on 12th and 13th April and provided a timely opportunity to focus the two-day event on the development and operation of a Jigsaw Hub. |
|
|
|
Jigsaw Website Coming Soon www.jigsaw.ie |
|
|
"In June, we will see the launch of a new Jigsaw Website – www.jigsaw.ie. The website will feature a space for each of the five current Jigsaw sites and beyond to tell people about project developments in their area. The site will allow visitors to find out about what Jigsaw is and how it aims to support young people and their mental health needs in the local community. |
|
|
|
New Training in Youth Centred Approach Launched |
|
|
Our new training programme - Supporting Young People’s Mental Health: a youth-centred approach - started in our Jigsaw youngballymun site on 6th May. This eight day skills-based training programme pulls together research evidence on what works in supporting young people’s mental health and has been developed for front line workers in the fields of health, education, youth work, social work, social care, justice, pastoral care, counselling, childcare and related areas. |
 |
|
|
Jigsaw youngballymun |
|
|
Jigsaw youngballymun are holding a free six week course to help people deal with stress. The course will be held in the Axis Centre in Ballymun during May and June. The course is for anyone over 18 years of age who wants to learn how to deal with stress, anxiety, depression, and panic, loss of confidence or poor sleep. For further information email lorna@youngballymun.org Lorna. |
|
|
|
Jigsaw Kerry Youth Advisory Panel Well-Being Day |
|
|
Our Jigsaw Kerry Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) took part in a day of “Thinking outside the Box” in Tralee’s Institute of Technology on 20th April. The day was filled with various workshops such as Drumming, Laughing Yoga, Exercise and Communication. The aim of the day was to get our Jigsaw YAP members thinking about mental health in an alternative way. |
|
|
|
My World Research |
|
|
The My World Research national data collection is currently underway and will continue over the coming months. This research aims to collect data at a national level among young people aged 12-25 years to benchmark the mental health of our young people today. The research has been received with great enthusiasm from young people, parents, teachers and those working in third-level institutions. |
|
|
|
32 county comedy charity challenge - a hilarious success |
|
|
At 5.30pm on Tuesday March 29th the members of Choke Comedy took to the stage for the first gig of what was to be an epic journey around the 32 counties of Ireland, playing 32 improv comedy gigs in just over three days. The nationwide tour climaxed in an emotional finale at the Greyhound Stadium in Limerick late on Friday night all in support of Headstrong. |
|
|
|
Silver Lining Album |
|
|
Headstrong psychologist Louize Carroll features on a new album by the Sound Training Centre which is raising funds for Headstrong. Louize, a singer songwriter, performs ‘You're the Voice’ on the album called Silver Lining. The album also features artists such as Paul Noonan of Bell X1, Heathers and Dublin Gospel Choir. |
|
|
|
Mini Marathon |
|
|
We would like to wish the very best of luck to Team Headstrong taking part in the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon in June. So far a group 46 women will be taking part in the Mini Marathon, which is our biggest ever. If you are doing the marathon and would like to be part of the Headstrong Team, please get in touch with Orlaith@headstrong.ie Orlaith. |
|
|
|
Get on Board |
|
|
Get on Board: 4 organisations. 15 days. 194 politicians. And one big ask: Get On Board for Youth Mental Health. During the General Election Headstrong joined forces with Reachout.com, BelongTo and Foroige to run a campaign called ‘Get on Board for Youth Mental Health’ where we travelled around the country meeting all the candidates running in the election asking them for their support for youth mental health. We were successful in getting 193 candidates ‘on board’, including the five party leaders, the various health and children’s spokespersons. |
|
|
|
|
|
First Open Evening |
|
|
Headstrong held its first open evening for people interested in our work on April 26th. We’re planning other open events so keep an eye on our website. |
|
|
|
Junior Cert School Programme |
|
|
Louize Carroll and Nuala Smith of Headstrong recently addressed an inservice training day on ‘Mental Health for adolescents’ to Junior Certificate Schools Programme (JCSP) Coordinators. The event formed part of the National In-service for JCSP Coordinators in March and was held at the Curriculum Development Unit in Crumlin. |
 |
