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SpunOut.ie Blog: Marie Duffy gives her review on the Tough Times Launch.
This time last year, at the Console conference, I was given a sheet of paper describing different scenarios and I was asked to choose which I could relate to most. I discovered later that the most selected scenarios would be used to make an advertisement aiming to highlight difficult times experienced by young people. This was the first stages of what was to be the Tough times campaign.
Fast forward to this June and SpunOut.ie along with the 3T’s, the National Office for Suicide Prevention, were launching the ad in Whelans, Dublin. When I arrived in Whelans, preparations were in full flow. The SpunOut.ie team were making last minute arrangements. Susie was running around with huge sunflowers, Sean was in the background with a video camera, while Ian had scary multicoloured feathers which he very kindly passed on to me, saying: “Do something with them things”. Anna was plastering every spare inch of wall with posters while Ruairi was busy doing media interviews. The bans were rehearsing, with music by The Frank and Walters, the Finglas Rappers (Warren Gifford, Christopher Buckley and Darren Fitzpatrick) and The Hassle Merchants.
Aidan Power arrived next and Ian and I chatted to him for a while at the bar. I noticed a mysterious dark fella from the corner of my eye, standing very still listening to everything we said but I ignored him. We discussed the Tough Times campaign with Aidan and made general conversation. It was after about 20 minutes that I realised that the guy who had been listening intently was actually a bloody statue. Duh Marie!
At this stage people began to trickle in and I went with fellow Youth Editor, Sinead to organise the teas and coffees. We went out to the bar where we were told that there was actually only one teapot. One teapot and over hundred people = a lot of boiled kettles. Where else but in Ireland?! I left Sinead to solve the crisis while I went inside to practise my poem. Ruairi and Anna had asked me to read a poem for the launch- one that I had written about someone going through a tough time. The person in the poem was tired of always feeling depressed and coping with their problems alone. By the end of the poem they had reached out for help and as a result felt more able to cope with things. I felt that the poem contained the message that the tough times campaign wanted to get across: It is important to share your problems with someone else and to ask for help if you are experiencing difficulties.
Overall, the day was a huge success and the Tough Times campaign received great media coverage. Spunout.ie Editor, Ian reached millions of people by speaking out on the radio and TV. The TV ad was aired during prime time slots and hopefully has had the desired effect. If it has only persuaded a few people to seek help, then it has done its job.
By: Marie Duffy
Related articles and links
Tough Times campaign launch
Read Ian Howley's blog about the campaign.
Watch the Frank and Walters playing at the launch.
Watch the Hassle Merchants playing at the launch.
Everybody goes through tough times.
Read SpunOut.ie Youth Editor, Marie Duffy's poem from the Tough Times launch.
Marie Duffy talks about the launch.
Download Campaign Picture.
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