Student Survival Guide Part 2: Tackling The Problem Of Suicide

Suicide prevention is an issue that is very important to Paul Chaney of ControlFreak. The crust punk band, noted for their political songs, have just released a new single, ‘Inside’, to raise funds for suicide prevention.

“Two people in my life have committed suicide, one was a close friend. Another member of the band has also had people close to him that have taken their own lives as well, so the issue is very close to our hearts,” explains Paul.
Paul himself has suffered from suicidal thoughts and was on anti-depressants in his teens.
“There was a huge thing in my head that I was a freak and I felt disconnected from society,” he says. “I did seek help but I did feel I was weak as a male for wanting to discuss those things. The idea is that as a man you deal with your own problems, but in reality that’s bullshit – nobody is an island and at times everybody needs help. I think that comes from the pervasive stigma attached to mental health illness in Ireland.”
Paul hopes the song will raise awareness of Ireland’s suicide problem, persuade people with suicidal thoughts to get help, and perhaps encourage other bands and activists to pressure the government.
“We don’t have the huge PR capability of getting the message out to the amount of people we’d like to, but we have to do something. We’re doing what we can. Obviously we’re not U2, we don’t have a huge platform, but maybe other bands will follow suit and add their voices. The more voices the better, and the more voices the more lobbying pressure on the government and the HSE to get a proper suicide prevention and mental health campaign done and enacted ASAP.”
Raising awareness of Ireland’s suicide epidemic is one thing, but as important as that may be, it is absolutely vital that proper mental health services are put in place.
“One thing we’re not happy with is the HSE being quite incompetent, especially after the promise of €35 million that was supposed to be ring-fenced for mental health and suicide prevention and the nearly 500 staff that were promised to fill positions to target the crisis. That hasn’t really come to fruition. It is definitely something I think is unacceptable in terms of frontline services. The whole initiative has to be fast-tracked.”

All Eyes On Media
Think you could make a splash in acting, journalism or PR? Here’s how...

As any overachieving success machine will tell you, the road to a fulfilling career starts with education, and what better time to start than right now?

From business to journalism, acting to PR, getting ahead in your chosen field all comes down to what you know, and the best way to learn is to sign yourself up for a course in one of Ireland’s world-class colleges.
While Griffith College Dublin (gcd.ie) and Dublin Business School (dbs.ie) boast some of the city’s best known media studies faculties, there are lots of other options, including Rathmines College (see below), which offers a brilliant Degree in Journalism and Public Relations.
Creative types are spoiled for choice on Irish shores, with the National College Of Art And Design (ncad.ie) and Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (iadt.ie) among our many fine institutions, and the Gaiety School Of Acting (see below) training some of the country’s hottest international stars.
Whatever field interests you, there’s a course to suit you on this page...

Go Further At Rathmines College
Fancy a career in journalism, marketing, business or events? A great way to make a fresh start is to register for a course in Rathmines College, where you can complete Certificate, Advanced Certificate, Diploma and Professional courses, awarded by the relevant Educational (FETAC and BTEC) and Professional bodies (PRII, ACCA, and IATI).
This centrally located and long-established college effectively matches student skills with employer needs by offering a range of one, two and three-year study options in the key skills areas of Journalism, PR, Marketing, Events, Accounting, Business and more.
Students of Rathmines College have gone on to fill much sought-after positions in media, finance and business. One such graduate is Ciara Courtney, who studied Journalism and Public Relations at Rathmines College for three years, and can currently be heard on Lyric fm and 2fm as part of the AA Roadwatch team. “I would highly recommend Rathmines College,” Ciara says. “I always found my lecturers very approachable and extremely helpful. The practical writing and radio skills I learned during my time in Rathmines helped me greatly in securing my first job in journalism as a news reporter on Northern Sound Radio.”
As a College of Further Education, Rathmines College courses are all state-funded, and so minimum charges apply.
For full details, call Rathmines College on (01) 4975334 or visit rathminescollege.ie.

The World’s A Stage At The Gaiety School Of Acting
If you’ve always wondered if you could hold your own against the Domhnall Gleesons and Saoirse Ronans of the world, a course at the Gaiety School Of Acting is just the thing to help you find out.
The National Theatre School of Ireland has been at the heart of actor training in Ireland for 27 years, offering three acclaimed one-year, part-time acting courses for those with aspirations of becoming the next Colin Farrell. Covering a wide range of techniques taught by highly experienced drama tutors, each course includes specialised workshops in areas such as voice, comedy improv and acting for camera.
Buddding actors can choose between the Performance Year In Acting, which is designed to help participants explore the process of acting in a supportive and structured environment, the Advanced Performance Year In Acting, which is is aimed at students who are committed to further enhancing their skills as a performer, and the Performance Theatre Company course (Dublin and Cork), which provides practical educational experience in the production of theatre.
There is an audition entry process for these courses, but don’t let that put you off! You never know what acting talent you may tap into!
For more information, check out gaietyschool.com or call on (01) 679 9277. They’re on Facebook and Twitter too, so there’s nothing to stop you from finding the perfect course.