Project
Mental Health Ireland is a national voluntary organisation which was established in 1966 as the Mental Health Association of Ireland. MHI’s aim is to promote positive mental health and wellbeing to all individuals and communities in Ireland. We have a network of 92 Mental Health Associations throughout the country, all led by volunteers. Our Mental Health Associations fundraise to organise outings and events for those struggling with mental health in their communities. Students will explore and possible fundraising activities and the cost to project.
Every year Limerick Mental Health Association support and organize a week long project of events and talks for the Limerick community.The aim of raising mental health awareness and the various organisations and groups that offer support ( including the nature of the support offered) to the public in Limerick City and County.
Community groups, voluntary organisations and individuals in the Mid-Western Region.
A key objective is to give community groups and organisations the opportunity to access resources in their local university. We support our community partners to effectively engage with faculty and students. Community members are provided with information and resources. Evaluation of their experiences of engaging with UL faculty and students and meeting project expectations is undertaking at specific timelines throughout the practicum. Community Evaluation of the project is designed into the project from start to finish.
Learning
Students will work and learn with Limerick Mental Health Association to organize and evaluate a week long schedule of projects, events and talks, aimed at raising mental health awareness and the different organizations in Limerick City and County. Information and data collected will be used to inform decisions made about events that are held every year during Mental Health Week and will also be used to support funding and other sponsorship goals.
Information and data collected will be used to inform decisions made about events that are held every year during Mental Health Week and will also be used to support funding and other sponsorship goals.
To engage with local citizens to support positive mental health and well-being and raise awareness of the wider remit of organisations/groups that offer support to the general public. As such, you will engage in both independent as well as collaborative learning. You will learn from one another to reach creative solutions to practical problems. The module is designed to enable students to develop the capacity to apply curriculum-based knowledge in a real-world setting and self-assess and develop graduate attributes to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team in collaboration with external community stake-holders. Submission of reflective journals will allow you to reflect on your learning and to identify any difficulties encountered in conducting your project. Presentations will allow you to practice and refine your communication skills.
You will work collaboratively with a community co coordinator in the Limerick Mental Health Association, community groups/individual and your peers.
Both formative and summative assessment methods will be used. Assessments will be designed to complement the interactive teaching and learning approaches. In particular, methods conducive to workplace assessment will be employed. These will include weekly reflection diaries, a group presentation, a reflective assignment and self-assessment activity. Students will be expected to produce a community briefing report and present their project outputs and outcomes to their community partner.