UCC played host on Monday to the latest phase of a student campaign that is highlighting the connections between binge drinking and mental health.
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is trying to change the image of the drunken student and helping to educate them about the pitfalls of binge drinking.
Called Mental Drinking, the USI launched a roadshow that travelled to colleges throughout Ireland this week with merchandise and information packs for students. It started in UCC on Monday.
The initiative is in conjunction with Alcohol Action Ireland and is funded by the HSE. It aims to explain clearly the link between binge drinking and mental ill-health, and to encourage students, particularly those who may be older brothers and sisters, to set a good role model for the younger generations coming up behind them.
The USI broke its links with the alcohol industry last year and Greg O'Donoghue, USI Vice President for Welfare, said that this independence has been vital for a genuine and credible alcohol awareness campaign among students.
"We present no-holds-barred information, based on the best research to students, so they can protect themselves from the industry’s marketing hype and unpick the conflicting messages which float around about alcohol," he said.
"We make it clear in our campaign that there can be a damaging impact for both the short and long-term mental health of young people when they binge drink and that drinking to excess on a regular basis can ultimately harm the development and potential of a young person, in terms of their education and many other important aspects of their life. It's simply not worth it.
Source: Brian Hayes Curtin, Cork Independent, 26/02/15
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