SpunOut.ie Blog
June, 2008
New to the SpunOut.ie team
Blog: The SpunOut.ie crew are delighted to welcome a new member to the team...
Cue the trumpets!
Ian Howley, 24 has been involved with SpunOut.ie for three years and volunteered in countless different aspects of the website.
He has now officially come on board as a project worker for the ‘Get SpunOut.ie’ awareness and outreach initiative based in the North West of Ireland and we are all thrilled to have him on the team.
Ian will be busy promoting SpunOut.ie as a tool for youth mental health promotion and suicide prevention in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal.
From the man himself: "I'm Ian and I'm delighted to be working with SpunOut.ie. I can't wait to get stuck in and get the show on the road. I am a firm believer in the power of SpunOut.ie and just how much good it can do for young people. So keep an eye out for me. You'll be seeing and hearing from me very soon!"
Ireland's biggest hugging event!
Free 'Hugs for Health' in Dublin on Friday June 20th with Ray D'Arcy.
On Friday June 20th ('the happiest day of the year!?') Ray D'Arcy and Google staff joined forces with the SpunOut.ie National Youth Website for Ireland's biggest 'free hugs' event promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in Ireland.
About the event (photos and videos being uploaded over the next couple of days..)
Ray joined the SpunOut.ie crew and over 80 staff from Google's European headquarters in what we reckon was Ireland's biggest ever 'free hugs' event.
The 'Hugs for Health' event was designed to raise awareness of SpunOut.ie and its role in supporting and empowering young people via the internet. The event saw Ray D'Arcy join teams of huggers roaming around Grafton St. and St. Stephen's Green with 'Free Hugs' banners, offering hugs to those who might feel like a Friday morning cuddle. The event was featured live on the Ray D'Arcy show on Today FM.
It was part of Google's Corporate Social Responsibility initiative 'GoogleServe', which provides support to charities throughout Ireland and was also supported by The Ray D'Arcy show, which has been active in covering youth mental health and suicide issues.
Commenting on the event SpunOut.ie's Susan Quirke said 'Hugs for Health' took its lead from the growing popularity of free hugs events in cities around the world, where they are often seen as a light hearted way of bringing back a sense of wellbeing in an often busy, stressful and individualistic world.
"SpunOut.ie is a hub for youth culture in Ireland and reaches tens of thousands of young people via the internet each month providing them with information, support and opportunities. We felt this was a great opportunity to get away from our desks, join forces with Ray and the folks at Google in order to promote positive mental health and wellbeing and to raise awareness of SpunOut.ie as an innovative forum for young people in Ireland. It was a deadly event. Tony Fenton from Today FM was passing by in his car and jumped out for hugs. Grannies, teachers, Gardai - and even Flock from the show 'Lost' came along for hugs. We must have hugged 1000s of people and probably inspired 10,000s of hugs across Ireland. We even heard of Irish people hugging in New Zealand because of the event!" said Susan.
Finally, a big thank you to Today FM, The Ray D'Arcy show, the Google crew and the St. Stephens Green Shopping Centre for supporting the event!
Stay tuned for more exciting SpunOut.ie news, events and campaigns.
"Take Control!"
Find out more event info:
Download the ‘Hugs for health’ press release and further information about SpunOut.ie.
Photos from the event
Full Quality Image Press Pack Available here
Tel: 091 533693 (SpunOut.ie office)
Email: info@spunout.ie
Find out how to hug back SpunOut.ie!!!
Get high on hugs!
Blog: Hugs are handshakes from the heart.
More information on free hugs and more funky photos are available here!
The basic essentials of life:
1. Air
2. Food
3. Water
4. Shelter
5. Clothing
6. HUGS!!!
7. SpunOut.ie
How to hug back SpunOut.ie:
Show your love for youth empowerment and positive social change by giving a donation to SpunOut.ie or by passing on a hug.
That’s right, grab a friend, loved one or your adorable pet, and give them a no holding back, arms wide open hug.
If you get a little embarrassed, just tell them SpunOut.ie told you to do it. We’ll gladly take the blame for spreading a little love! Gotta friend that’s on the other side of the world? This kindness initiative knows no boundaries, so email them a warm and cozy hug.
What is hugging?
- Hugging is natural, organic, naturally sweet, free of pesticides and preservatives.
- Hugging contains no artificial ingredients.
- It's 100% wholesome. No calories, no caffeine, no nicotine.
- Hugging is nearly perfect. There are no removable parts, batteries to wear out, no periodic checkups.
- It consumes little energy, while yielding a lot.
- Hugging is inflation-proof.
- There are no monthly payments and no insurance requirements.
- It's theft-proof, non-taxable, non-polluting, and fully refundable.
- It costs very little.
- Hugs assist the body's immune system.
- Hugs reduce stress.
- Hugs induce sleep.
- Hugs invigorate and rejuvenate.
- Hugs have no unpleasant side-effects (barring the odd spray of B.O.!).
- Hugging is no less than a miracle drug.
What sort of people like hugging?
Nice people. People who like to share things. People who make themselves and the world they live in a little happier by hugging.
The best people, places and times to hug?
Anyone. Any place. Any time.
The value of hugs:
Although hugs are free, they're worthless if they aren't used. An unused hug is lost forever. On a planet that's starved for affection, can we really afford to lose a single hug?
Asking for hugs:
For those who aren't always comfortable with the traditional hug, you could at least try one of the other following forms of hugs:
- A kind word.
- A touch.
- A loving smile.
- A "Thank you!"
- A "Forgive me."
- A "Can I help you?"
- An "I'm Sorry."
And anything else you can do to make a person feel good about him or herself.
All about hugging facts provided by: http://www.poofcat.com/friend9.html
For more information on the worldwide Free Hugs Campaign, including 50 different ways to hug, check out: http://www.freehugsguide.org/
More information on free hugs and more funky photos are available here!
Leaving Cert and Junior Cert survival
Blog: Tips on how to get through the exams without losing your cool.
It’s that time of the year again, when thousands of students across Ireland start the Leaving Cert and Junior Cert exams. Exam time can be stressful, so we’ve put together lots of tips and supportive information to help you through the next two weeks.
GOOD LUCK from the SpunOut.ie crew to everyone who begins their exams today!!
During the exams:
Manage stress
Exam morning tips
Stay healthy during exams
Support organisations if you need to talk to someone
Panic attacks
Young people’s chill out tips
True life exam stress
After the exams:
Exam results
Celebrating exam results
After school options
Celebrate the end of school
True life exam results
If you need to talk to someone right now then contact one of these organisations for confidential support 24 hours a day- no matter your age or where you are.
Samaritans PHONE: 1850 609090
(Northern Ireland: 08457 909090)
Samaritans provides confidential, non-judgemental support, 24 hours a day for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.
ChildLine FREEPHONE: 1800 66 66 66
Childline is a 24-hour a day service for young people up to 18. Childline offer support to young people through the listening service over the phone and through the website. You can call Childline for a chat or to talk about any problems you might have.
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide or self harm, you should immediately contact your local doctor or go to the Casualty unit of the nearest hospital.
Who to ask for help:
- Talk to someone you trust (perhaps a family member, school counsellor or a friend) and ask them to support you in finding help.
- Talk to your doctor, a school or college counsellor or support services in the area where you live.
- Contact one of the many support organisations and helplines that will be more than willing to help.
- See the Need help now? factsheet for information on some of the main support organisations and services available.
- Northern Ireland: We are developing a full range of Northern Ireland support links on SpunOut.ie. In the meantime, visit the MindingYourHead website for contact details of support organisations in Northern Ireland.
When seeking help, remember:
- Be truthful about the problem and tell all the facts.
- State whether you want your problem to be kept confidential and ask whether the person can do this for you. Some organisations are obliged to report issues such as rape or abuse to the authorities.
- Often services such as counselling and helplines are overworked and may not be able to help straight away but hang in there and demand to get help.
- Don’t let the cost, location or hours of service put you off. You have a right to help and/ or treatment. Remind the doctor/ clinic of this.
- Make sure they LISTEN to you, TREAT YOU WITH RESPECT and DON’T JUDGE YOU.
