DkIT Health Week 2020 Shines Light on the Importance of Health & Wellbeing for Students

14 February 2020

The DkIT Student Health Unit organised its second annual Health Week to highlight the importance of taking care of personal health and wellbeing while at college. The week-long event was targeted primarily at students and involved demonstrations, stands and health talks across the campus. It was purposely organised at the beginning of 2020 to coincide with people’s New Year resolutions around healthy choices.

As part of the positive health awareness week, DkIT students were invited to meet one-to-one with a variety of health and wellbeing specialists. Areas covered include nutrition, mindfulness, fitness, general health and road safety.

Throughout the week, the Irish Heart Foundation provided life-saving CPR training to more than 120 staff and students as part of its Hands for Life programme. Free health checks were provided by DkIT nursing staff and students could get their blood sugars and blood pressure checked by trained professionals. Students were also invited to participate in a Virtual Reality car accident simulation via the Road Safety Authority.

A highlight of the week included a moving suicide a+wareness exhibition organised by the DkIT Students Union where 105 student backpacks were placed in the civic square on campus. The backpacks represent the number of college-age students that die annually in Ireland due to suicide. The exhibition was a poignant gesture which demonstrated the importance of self-care and awareness of mental health.

Speaking today, Patricia Smyth, Student Health Unit Nurse said,

“It is vital that students are educated on the various aspects involved in maintaining positive health and wellbeing. The 2020 Health Week marked the second annual event and following the success of the 2019 Fair there were high expectations. This year we hoped to replicate the success of 2019s events and the week was extremely successful and lived up to the high expectations. It is not rare that individuals have a condition or problem with their health about which they are unaware. DkITs Health Fairs help to bring awareness to this and provide people with the necessary tools required to take care of both their health and wellbeing.

For more information about health services at DkIT, please visit www.dkit.ie/dkit-life/student-supports/health-and-wellbeing.html