Courses
Looking out for students on Suicide Prevention Awareness Day this September
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) lecturers and staff have teamed up with the HSE to raise awareness and learn new skills around suicide prevention ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, 2026.
The initiative is led by Rev Daniel Caldwell, Chaplain at ATU, and Jennifer Corbett, Mental Health & Well-being Project Officer at ATU, alongside Seán Conneely, Senior Health Promotion Officer, HSE West and North West, and is supported by the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP).
The need for accessible mental health support for students has never been more important. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) National Report on Student Mental Health in Third Level Education (2019) found that students were experiencing extremely severe levels of anxiety (38%), depression (30%) and stress (17%). The report also found that almost one-third (32%) of students had received a formal diagnosis of a mental health difficulty at some point in their lives.
Mental health is everybody’s business and ATU lecturers and staff are uniquely placed to play an important role in supporting student wellbeing. While lecturers and staff are not expected to be mental health professionals, they can provide a vital first point of contact offering a listening ear, recognising when a student may need additional support, and signposting them to the appropriate mental health and wellbeing services available.
Let’s Talk About Suicide is a free online suicide prevention training programme from the HSE (traininghub.nosp.ie). It helps people to develop their skills to keep others safe from suicide. It helps identify people who may be at risk, to confidently broach the subject of suicide and connect them with resources that can help them stay safe.
ATU Lecturers who have completed the online training have also received a resource pack containing further information to help signpost students to additional support services.
Seán Conneely said:
The response from the ATU has been fantastic. Lecturers and staff were very interested in the initiative and when talking to them I could see that they really cared about their students and were eager to learn more about suicide prevention and mental health.
Feedback from participating staff has also been very positive. One ATU staff member that completed the programme said it highlighted “key features when talking to someone showing the signs of considering suicide”. Jennifer Corbett said “By building the confidence and awareness of staff, ATU can strengthen a whole-university approach to student wellbeing and help ensure that students feel supported, connected and able to access help when they need it.”
Following the success of the pilot programme at ATU Mayo campus and the overwhelmingly positive feedback received, plans are now underway to roll out the programme across ATU’s other campuses.
Dr Justin Kerr, Vice-President of ATU Mayo campus, said:
I was delighted to support the pilot of the Let’s Talk About Suicide on the ATU, Mayo campus. Partnership with the HSE West and North West, ATU Mental Health Project Office and the National Office for Suicide Prevention demonstrates the importance of interagency working. I look forward to this initiative being rolled out across ATU.
While this initiative involved ATU lecturers, anyone over the age of 18 years can complete this free online course available from traininghub.nosp.ie.
For further information on mental health supports or training please feel free to contact your local Mental Health and Wellbeing Project Officer:
ATU Well-being Contact Points
Donegal/Killybegs
Sharon Ferguson
wellbeing.donegal@atu.ie
Galway/Mayo
Jennifer Corbett
wellbeing.galwaymayo@atu.ie
Sligo
Helen Campbell
wellbeing.sligo@atu.ie
St Angela’s
Kelly Kilraine
wellbeing.stangelas@atu.ie
Photo caption: (L-R) Siobhan McBrearty, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, HSE; Rev. Daniel Caldwell, Chaplain, ATU; Dr Justin Kerr, Vice-President, ATU Mayo Campus; Sean Conneely, Senior Health Promotion Officer, HSE; and Jennifer Corbett, Mental Health & Wellbeing Project Officer, ATU.
For media enquiries, contact:
Aidan Haughey
Communications Manager
Tel: 086 086 6913
E: aidan.haughey@atu.ie
