News & Events
27th June 2017
You are never too young to tackle mental health
Are our children learning to be as mentally fit as they are physically fit? Schools should be playing a significant role in influencing positive mental health and reducing the risk factors for mental health difficulties. There have been few generations as transformative for children as this one,...
19th June 2017
One in 10,000 Irish teenagers will die by suicide, says Unicef
One in 10,000 Irish teenagers will die by suicide, says Unicef Ireland’s teenage suicide rate is fourth-highest among high-income countries Girls actually attempt suicide about twice as often as boys, though generally the methods chosen are less lethal. Ireland’s teenage suicide rate is the fourth-highest among high-income countries,...
14th June 2017
What We Can Learn About Resilience From Elite Athletes
As an assistant professor and accredited sport psychologist, I am often asked what strategies I advise athletes to apply in order to assist them in overcoming setbacks in their careers (i.e., defeat, deselection, injury). I always aim to impart life-benefiting skills to these athletes, skills...
7th June 2017
In a recent survey by Reach Out Ireland, 72% of teenagers named body image as a cause of stress
Body image and mental health In our recent survey, What’s Wrecking Your Head?, 72% of teenagers named body image as a cause of stress. Body image actually came third in the list as a stressor, after school and exams. All consuming There’s no question that concerns about body image...
31st May 2017
Teenagers’ sleep quality and mental health at risk over late-night mobile phone use!
Teenagers’ late-night mobile phone use is harming their sleep and potentially their mental health, say researchers who advised that “physical boundaries” be set over use of such devices in the bedroom. A longitudinal study of 1,101 Australian high school students aged between 13 and 16 found...
25th May 2017
Investing 5 minutes, Enjoy a Wealth of Well-Being
Five minutes. It’s not a lot of time. Or is it? As it happens, investing just five minutes in certain key activities can yield amazing benefits for your health and happiness. 1. Five minutes of running per day may add three years to your life. According to this study (link...
22nd May 2017
Preschools without walls: why children need outdoor play
Too much screen-time and inactivity is depriving young people of vital life skills. Every generation winces when the previous one recalls how much better life was in their day. But one thing everyone remembers is playing outside as a child. If current trends are anything to go...
16th May 2017
‘Every Irish family has a mental health problem’
Self-harm, anxiety and trauma have all increased in recent years, says Prof Jim Lucey Jim Lucey isn’t happy with where he’s sitting. We’re in a hotel on the quays, about to start the interview. He’s perched on a sofa in the foyer, at right angles to...