This "Please Talk" nonsense

jimMan

Now I’m not one to criticise suicide prevention campaigns – I believe passionately in them having a friend who committed suicide – this PleaseTalk.ie lark really gets to me though and it seems everyone jumps on the bandwagon.

Has anyone been to the website – I amn’t around UCD long enough to see it when it was set up but presently it is absolute muck.

It seems like UCD and the SU have jumped on it to make themselves look good – fair enough the message is good but the website is crap.

It sends out a terrible message to students telling them to go onto PleaseTalk.ie and when they get on there they are told to go to the Registrar or the links for most of the colleges don’t work. I really don’t think that registrar guy who sends me emails is the best person to talk to

I complained about it and found out that it was an ex President Barry Colfer who gets paid to run it- is that true? I’m ashamed that it has any connections to UCD- if someone really needs to talk to someone there is pretty much no help on it

noodler

Surely the message is what is important here?

dyl10

Do you need someone to talk to, JimMan?

33% God

jimMan

No i don't need to talk to anybody but I'd like to know that if I ever did I could and think that please talk is a bit of a joke.

Yes the message is the most important bit- to come and talk to someone- but who since the website doesnt tell us?

33% God

jimMan wrote: »

No i don't need to talk to anybody but I'd like to know that if I ever did I could and think that please talk is a bit of a joke.

Yes the message is the most important bit- to come and talk to someone- but who since the website doesnt tell us?

Yes it does, here's what their UCD web page says

Support Services

The social, personal and emotional welfare of students is the particular concern of staff in various offices in the University. These members of staff are involved in giving support and assistance to students if they encounter difficulties or problems during their years in UCD. They have considerable experience in dealing with all the areas of difficulty that can affect students, and are freely available to meet with anyone who would like to discuss a problem or who simply has a query.
The following is an outline of these key student support services.
Registrar’s Office
The Registrar has overall responsibility for student affairs, including welfare. The Registrar, or a member of her staff, is always willing to meet with any student who has a serious problem. Students should call to Counter 6 in the Michael Tierney Building.
Web site: http://www.ucd.ie/registrar/
Telephone Number: 716 1404
Disability Support Service
The aim of the Disability Support Service (D.S.S) in University College Dublin is to support students with a disability in their studies at UCD. Specific needs of each student are dealt with on an individual basis.
Currently, we provide support for students with a variety of disabilities including physical disabilities, sensory disabilities, dyslexia and significant ongoing medical conditions. There is a wide range of services provided directly to students with a disability, some of which include:

• Evaluation of student needs
• Library assistance
• Assistive technology – provision of and training
• Books on tape
• One-to-one reader service
• Braille service
• Information and advice
• Advocacy on behalf of students with a disability

The D.S.S co-ordinates services and works in co-operation with all Departments to include the needs of students with a disability in the provision of services within the University.
If you feel you may benefit from the Disability Support Service please contact the Disability Support Service Officer as soon as possible.
For Contact Information: http://www.ucd.ie/disability/contact.html
Website: http://www.ucd.ie/disability/
E-mail: dss@ucd.ie
New Era Programme
The New ERA programme, launched in November 1997, is part of the University’s strategy to address economic and social disadvantage by extending educational opportunities to students from marginalised communities. The principal aim of New ERA is to promote and support the participation of students from lower socio-economic groups who to date have been under-represented in the university sector. The New ERA programme works in close partnership with approximately thirty second-level schools, developing active links with pupils and their parents in the course of their second-level education. Additional places are created at UCD to accommodate the intake of students under the programme.
Students entering UCD through the New ERA programme can be confident that a range of supports (including financial, academic and guidance support) will be available to them throughout their time in University. These supports can also be extended to eligible undergraduate students who enter through the CAO. Eligibility for the New ERA programme is means tested.
New ERA has two offices on campus, one beside Theatre O in the John Henry Newman Building and the other at G04A in the Science Lecture Building. Enquiries can also be made by telephone at 716 8606 / 716 2359 and through the New ERA web page at: www.ucd.ie/newera/
Student Advisers
The role of the Student Advisers is to provide support for students, particularly First Years, by providing advice and information in relation to social, personal and practical issues and, where necessary, by referring them for more specialised advice to members of the academic or administrative staff or to the professional support services.
The Student Advisers are located in the Faculties where they work as a member of a team with a chaplain and representatives of the academic and administrative staff of the Faculty. Please do not hesitate to contact the Student Adviser in your Faculty if you need information or advice on any matter. Student Advisers can be contacted through the Faculty Office or at G003, John Henry
Website: http://www.ucd.ie/advisers
Newman Building (telephone: 716 8372).
Chaplaincy
The Chaplains’ Offices / Student Advisers are at Room G005 John Henry Newman Building, Room 122 Science Building and Room G19 Earlsfort Terrace. Some Chaplains reside on-campus at St Stephen’s Chaplaincy Centre. The Chaplains work in close contact with other welfare services. Nurturing a sense of community on campus is seen as essential. Therefore, students are encouraged to become actively involved in University life and develop a sense of belonging. This is facilitated by the Chaplains’ personal contact with students and involvement with clubs, societies and Faculty Days.
A welcoming open-door policy exists to enable students feel welcome and to seek assistance, especially in times of distress, illness and bereavement. There is particular attention given to students’ special needs at the beginning and end of the academic year.
A referral system is directed towards academic sources. Availability to students is seen as a priority at all times.
Web Site: http://www.ucd.ie/chaplaincy
Students’ Union
The Students’ Union provides a variety of welfare services for students, comprising help with grants and education problems, lists of available student accommodation and tenants’ rights information, information on health issues, a free counselling service and an employment office.
The Union also facilitates a volunteer programme to assist students with disabilities with reading, shopping, house duties and a variety of other services. Volunteers are recruited in September and then introduced to students who may require their assistance. Any student wishing to volunteer for, or to avail of, this service should contact the Welfare Officer.
UCD Students’ Union web site.(opens new window)
Night Line
Niteline is a voluntary student-run organisation that operates a telephone listening and information service for students. The volunteers come from UCD and TCD, and remain anonymous within the student body. Niteline is supported by the Students’ Unions of both universities. Callers can talk about anything that is on their minds, be it personal, sexual or study-related. Put simply, if an issue is important to you, it’s important to us.
Niteline operates every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night from 9.00 p.m. to 2.30 a.m. There will be a female or male volunteer to talk to you, depending on your preference. All calls are confidential. For more information, please contact Róisín McKeon, Students’ Union Welfare Officer at 716 3112.
Niteline’s number is Freephone 1800 793 793
Web Site: http://www.ucd.ie/niteline/

WeeBushy

I've just been looking around the website and tbh honest I can't see what your problem is... seems like a really good website to me.

On the UCD page one link (to the SU) doesn't work, but untill its fixed (a) surely anyone that wants to talk to them can find info easily enough, and (b) why would you want to talk to them anyway

Links to most colleges work fine. Some of the smaller colleges don't have info up yet, but I'd imagine that's because they've just joined up... give them time. The vast majority are really useful.

UCD and the SU don't feature prominently, but seeing as its a UCD/SU brainchild they would be more than entitled to plaster their logos all over it if they wanted.

You are totally overreacting imo.

jimMan

WeeBushy wrote: »

I've just been looking around the website and tbh honest I can't see what your problem is... seems like a really good website to me.

On the UCD page one link (to the SU) doesn't work, but untill its fixed (a) surely anyone that wants to talk to them can find info easily enough, and (b) why would you want to talk to them anyway

Links to most colleges work fine. Some of the smaller colleges don't have info up yet, but I'd imagine that's because they've just joined up... give them time. The vast majority are really useful.

UCD and the SU don't feature prominently, but seeing as its a UCD/SU brainchild they would be more than entitled to plaster their logos all over it if they wanted.

You are totally overreacting imo.

No my point is someone from ucd got paid to do this which I think is outragreous cause its pretty terrible- (sorry I probably should have mentioned in first post but just had a chance to look up and get figures)- It is out in the open that this guy got €100,000 for the Please talk campaign
http://www.universityobserver.ie/2009/09/29/please-talk-retains-hse-funding-despite-budget-cuts/

Now i don't know about you but is that website worth €100,000- It annoys me that people think this UCD ex president Barry Colfer is ripping off the country and the colleges by throwing up some crap website

WeeBushy

jimMan wrote: »

No my point is someone from ucd got paid to do this which I think is outragreous cause its pretty terrible- (sorry I probably should have mentioned in first post but just had a chance to look up and get figures)- It is out in the open that this guy got €100,000 for the Please talk campaign
http://www.universityobserver.ie/2009/09/29/please-talk-retains-hse-funding-despite-budget-cuts/

Now i don't know about you but is that website worth €100,000- It annoys me that people think this UCD ex president Barry Colfer is ripping off the country and the colleges by throwing up some crap website

Please read the article you just cited. The €100,000 was not spent entirely on the website (it lists what it was spent on if you actually read the article) and has been spent over time since 2007. Please get your facts straight before you lambast a brilliant initiative.

Barry Colfer is a campaign agent, he doesn't run it and doesn't decide what the money is spent on. Best not to slander his name.

33% God

^
+1

jimMan wrote: »

No my point is someone from ucd got paid to do this which I think is outragreous cause its pretty terrible- (sorry I probably should have mentioned in first post but just had a chance to look up and get figures)- It is out in the open that this guy got €100,000 for the Please talk campaign
http://www.universityobserver.ie/2009/09/29/please-talk-retains-hse-funding-despite-budget-cuts/

Now i don't know about you but is that website worth €100,000- It annoys me that people think this UCD ex president Barry Colfer is ripping off the country and the colleges by throwing up some crap website

Way to misrepresent. He didn't get 100,000, the campaign did. That's not his salary, which seems to be what you are implying, that is the funding for the organisation.
From your own article "Please Talk, campaign agent Barry Colfer responded that the “funding is used primarily for items including the design, production, and distribution of the thousands of different materials – badges, pens, t-shirts, fliers, mugs, banners, balloons, material holders, et cetera – used to promote the campaign including postage to campuses across the country, as well as web expenses, pay cost and the costs associated with traveling to campuses and committee meetings throughout Ireland.”"

Paul Tergat

I take massive exception to what you are saying here.

Barry is a good mate of mine and yes he is involved in this but some of the crap you are saying is just ridiculous. I was only speaking to him about this last week, just before he was to go into a meeting with people in Trinity to discuss pleasetalk. He works his arse off, as well as having to complete the final year of his degree.

It was only a new thing when I was in UCD a couple of years ago and its come on greatly since then and I can assure you that Barry will continue to work his arse off for something that he really strongly believes in.

Oh, and did you actually think he would be getting 100k for this? Cmon.

jimMan

Do you seriously think he isn't making a serious amount of that money for himself- i've heard people from another college complain about the campaign as it's got a good bit of negative press when people found out how much money is getting thrown at it without any clarity. I never thought much about it till going to the website myself the other day

100k on pens and badges- you gotta be joking me - its a scam- the website hasnt been updated since before the summer. I was never a fan of the SU but when they use a campaign to make money for themselves it annoys me is all

Paul Tergat

jimMan wrote: »

Do you seriously think he isn't making a serious amount of that money for himself- i've heard people from another college complain about the campaign as it's got a good bit of negative press when people found out how much money is getting thrown at it without any clarity. I never thought much about it till going to the website myself the other day

100k on pens and badges- you gotta be joking me - its a scam- the website hasnt been updated since before the summer. I was never a fan of the SU but when they use a campaign to make money for themselves it annoys me is all

I can tell you 100% he is not making a serious amount of money out of this himself. It's not at all a campaign for individuals to make money out of.

Stop talking ****e

Ginja Ninja

1); have you ever done anything to help people with depression/suicidal thoughts? No, then SHHHHH!!!!

2) it's not run by UCD it was started here and then spread,the guy your mentioning just happens to have went here.

3) Unless you have need of ther services,it doesn't matter whether it's up to your "standard"

4) Any help is a huge help when someone is in that situation,the SU have put a lot of work into this issue and it shows.I'm not a massive fan of the union[I'm part of it as a rep,so this isn't speculation]

WeeBushy

jimMan wrote: »

Do you seriously think he isn't making a serious amount of that money for himself- i've heard people from another college complain about the campaign as it's got a good bit of negative press when people found out how much money is getting thrown at it without any clarity. I never thought much about it till going to the website myself the other day

Way to completely ignore everything we've said. There is no suggestion he is making anything out of it. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't, it's not our place to make derogatory insinuations without any evidence. Your basing it on your own agenda, nothing else. He's not the head anyway - he's only a representative.

The reason it got negative press is because people like you spread lies and mistruths about it, completely misrepresenting the facts.

And beside, I think its an excellent website. Not perfect, but on the whole very accessible and informative.

jimMan wrote: »

100k on pens and badges- you gotta be joking me - its a scam- the website hasnt been updated since before the summer. I was never a fan of the SU but when they use a campaign to make money for themselves it annoys me is all

It's very disingenuous of you to argue against it without even reading the article properly. €100,000 was not spent on pens and badges.


Filthy lies are what you are spreading.

Notorious

Wonder if the OP jimMan knows that other n00b to boards - Belfield inside. They both have quite a dislike for the SU.

WeeBushy

Notorious wrote: »

Wonder if the OP jimMan knows that other n00b to boards - Belfield inside. They both have quite a dislike for the SU.

And they're both equally uninformed. :rolleyes:

JIM71

I've met Barry Colfer and frankly think quite little of the work he's done. Personally I couldn't help but think that he's in it for a future political career. If you're a friend of his, I mean no offense. Having met the guy a couple of times I've been left distinctly unimpressed. Just my opinion, as I'm sure you'll have yours. What I will say is that the student services that I work for have been trying to get them to correct the information on the site.

If you go through the contacts provided on the new Please Talk website I think you'll find a lot of them are out of date. For example the TCD welfare officer is still listed as the one from 2006/07.

The PleaseTalk campaign was set up for all the right reasons but has been run as a near shambles. 100,000 and they couldn't even get a decent message going. 'Talking is a sign of strength, not weakness'.

Is that really supposed to inspire people to confront others about their problems? I mean come on. That is in itself what will add to a stigma. People aren't just going to turn around because a sign with a geeky teen that looks quite like Scott Ahearn is telling them otherwise. Personally I think they should have taken a different line.

Secondly for €100,000 (I'm led to believe the figure is nearly €15,000 higher than that reported figure) what have we seen?

Back to Colfer though; I think the UCD welfare position is quite a tough one but colfer is one of a long line of incompetent people who somehow managed to obtain the role and did very little with it (not much different from his successors Rath & Fingleton - both also involved to some capacity in PT). It's a real pity, it really is.

Paul Tergat

JIM71 wrote: »

I've met Barry Colfer and frankly think quite little of the work he's done. Having met the guy a couple of times I've been left distinctly unimpressed.

I dont understand this? Do you want him to juggle while he talks to you or something?

JIM71 wrote: »

Back to Colfer though; I think the UCD welfare position is quite a tough one but colfer is one of a long line of incompetent people who somehow managed to obtain the role and did very little with it (not much different from his successors Rath & Fingleton - both also involved to some capacity in PT). It's a real pity, it really is.

lol. I have new nickname for him now. Cheers :rolleyes:

RandolphEsq

In fairnest, the campaign has been quite fruitless and gave out a different message to what it should have. It gives off a message that only 'serious' problems need sorting out so get them out of you through talking. It missed a huge chunk of students by neglecting to target relatively minor problems

cHaTbOx

I thought this thread was the direction for a game I would definitely win

seraphimvc

just as many many useless/rediculous/non-sense stuffs/policies/rules happening everywhere in this country -

as far as people can pay for their drinks,no problemo :pac:

you know i am just telling the truths!

OT:

ya,i've seen the pretty blue Please Talk t-shirt wearing people and seems like they have some activities going on when i pass through the main library(which i rarely do that now unless in exam period since 2nd year).other than that,i know nothing about this Please Talk campaign. my friends never mention anything about this campaign before so i assume we are kinda in the same boat -

4 years in UCD obviously i have read about it in the newspaper/observers paper etc know abit about them,but if i am having any difficulty would i look for help from this campaign?very unlikely.which is what OP's point here.also needless to point out that this Please Talk got sh!tloads of $$$ for running it which is the main reason why i think it is nonsense.