DCU Please Talk Campaign 
23 November 2009

Please Talk was first launched in Jan 2007 in response to the death of a student by suicide. It is a proactive initiative that promotes the viewpoint that talking is a sign of strength not of weakness. It aims to support the student to reach out to others when  experiencing difficulties and encourages the college community  to be aware that open talking and genuine concern is a source of relief and often the key elements in preventing the immediate danger of suicide.   

This Year's 'Please Talk' campaign will be launched in the Street on Monday at 12.00pm accompanied by an excerpt from a one act drama piece called Tourette'.

There is a very full and exciting programme of events for the week ranging from a number of drama fest acts written and  performed by DCU students (see attached for details). This is coupled with comedy night shows which add a fun and creative forum to consider issues that affect students (see schedule of events attached).

The Samaritans will introduce the benefits of a telephone listening out of hours service which they provide nationally and which Niteline  provides for students here at DCU. 

In addition 'Lets Talk Suicide'-What to be aware of and What to do-A First Aid Intervention Skills input for staff and students will be held on Tues the 24th and repeated on Thur 26th from 10.30-11.10 in the Interfaith Centre.

With suicide being a central concern for us all this presentation will provide clear steps in how to structure you interaction with a person in such distress. Such conversations can be a great source of relief for a person and often the key element in preventing the immediate danger of suicide.

Finally, on Thur at 1.30 a service remembering those affected by Suicide will be held  in the Interfaith Centre.   

We hope you will join with us in some of these events during the week.

Counselling and Personal Development Service www.dcu.ie/students/counselling
The Health Centre and to Student Support and Development www.dcu.ie/students/advice.
Niteline www.niteline.ie