Lean on Us Campaign Launched
Posted on: 02 November 2017
A new awareness and stigma reduction campaign called Lean on Us was officially launched on November 1st by the Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast, Chief Operating Officer, Geraldine Ruane as well as Christina Hamilton, Lean On Us Ambassador.
The campaign brings student services together to inspire current students to feel confident and comfortable about leaning on a variety of services while they are attending Trinity.
The Lean On Us campaign aims to:
- Engage students by empowering them with stories of current and past students who have overcome troubles by leaning on support services.
- Attract and engage students and alumni to build the momentum of creating this social movement.
- Act as a catalyst for Trinity to foster a focus on Student Wellbeing and the availability of support services.
- Reduce the social stigma of mental health problems, and asking for help, among the student population.
Spearheaded by Trinity’s Student Counselling Services, Lean On Us is a visual art campaign that depicts current and former students (alumni) of Trinity showing how leaning on student support services was important for them in completing their studies. The campaign consists of two elements: a portrait exhibit that will depict pictures of current and former students who were supported by support services in Trinity; and short video showcasing that it’s okay to use the support services.
These Student Services are very diverse and include Student Counselling Service, Student Learning and Development, Student 2 Student, Disability Service, College Health Service, the Tutorial Service, Chaplaincy, Careers Advisory Service, the Senior Tutor’s Office, Alumni, the GSU, and Global Relations.
Scott Ahearn, Intern Student Counsellor and Family Therapist with Trinity’s Student Counselling Services who initiated this project and chaired the Steering Group is eager to see this expand in the future to highlight the individual services available at Trinity.
Trinity’s Chief Operating Officer Geraldine Ruane remarked at the campaign’s launch that “these testimonies demonstrate how relevant our student services are to helping students progress through college. They speak of the warmth and professionalism they encountered no matter what service they used. They also speak about how the services helped them improve their wellbeing in many different ways: intellectual, physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and social. This reflects the great breadth of services Trinity has to offer.”
Christina Hamilton, Trinity student and Lean On Us Ambassador, highlighted her personal experiences starting her studies at Trinity and the impact of the support provided by Student Services noting that “there is absolutely no shame in asking for help.”
The campaign also demonstrates Trinity’s commitment to providing its students with a holistic university experience both within and outside of the classroom. The variety of Student Services provided all play a key role in assisting students to progress in College and to successfully complete their studies. By availing of the excellent services provided for them students develop many skills including self-awareness, team work, communication skills, critical, ethical and global thinking and the ability to work in teams.
Provost Dr Patrick Prendergast speaking at the launch noted that “as humans, we have great empathy. We connect through recognising ‘the other’ within ourselves. We also respond to courage. It still takes courage to speak out and admit that one has suffered. I hope that soon we get to a place where this is seen as normal. The ‘Lean on Us’ campaign depends on the courage and willingness to share of alumni and student ambassadors.”
Funding for this campaign to Trinity’s Student Counselling Services was granted by the Visual and Performing Arts Fund. Additional information regarding the campaign may be found here: https://www.tcd.ie/Student_Counselling/support-services/lean-on-us/.