About Us

Health doesn’t have to be boring!??

The Sláinte Society is one of UCC’s newest and most exciting societies which promises to make a major impact and statement this year both in campus and individual student life, through its intention to invigorate and refresh peoples knowledge of health and health related issues in a way which has not been done on campus before by using unique and innovative ways of communicating health information. In particular the society sees movement away from traditional victim blaming ideologies inherent in health education toward a more positive, empowering technique of health education in the student body as key to its ethos. Headed by students of the BSc Public Health and Health Promotion, the societies mantra is informed by health promotion theories in relation to topical issues like healthy eating, alcohol consumption, smoking, sexual health and mental health. However the society welcomes focus on other contemporary issues affecting the student body which often don’t attract the attention they deserve and we hope to adapt and evolve as membership grows and the society becomes more diverse. As a new society students are welcomed from all disciplines across the university to bring their knowledge, skills, perspectives and expertise to the forum of Sláinte in order to broaden our understandings of health issues in the student body. Society initiatives for 2009/2010 academic year will involve, regular monthly meetings, discussions relating to health issues to be tackled on campus, campaigns in relation to pertinent health issues affecting the student body from healthy eating to mental health issues to issues affecting students with disabilities.

Such campaigns may involve shocking posters/leaflets, debates in association with the Philosophical Society and other societies which may wish to get involved, the invitation of speakers with specialist backgrounds to give talks on campus, visitations by positive Irish role models to head campaigns on campus, free give-aways e.g.: condoms, the undertaking of surveys to be published in the Express, Express columns relating to specific health issues. In addition to these plans, the society is very open to new ideas about how one might go about a health promotion initiative on campus in an exciting and innovative way, which essentially communicates the message of any given campaign.

Collaborative work is viewed as an essential component of the work of the Sláinte Society and the society would be very much interested in working with other clubs, societies and parties such as the Welfare Officer or U.C.C. Express columnists, for example, in achieving its goals.

The society is very excited and enthusiastic about its first year in operation in UCC and welcomes all new members to the drawing board to create, nurture and implement radical and exciting ways of placing both commonplace and often taboo health issues to the forefront of the minds of the student body which ultimately raises awareness and most importantly saves lives.