Bullying

Though bullying is something that we associate with the schoolyard, unfortunately it continues through college, and even into the workplace. Bullying is unwanted and unwelcome behaviour which is persistent and repeated, is offensive or threatening to the recipient, or which leaves the recipient isolated or vulnerable. Bullying can take many forms:

• Verbal: personal insults, demeaning remarks, humiliation in front of others, nicknames, ridicule, persistent picking on a person ‘as a joke’, threats
• Non-verbal or indirect: exclusion, hostile attitude, spreading malicious rumours
• Abuse of power: excessive criticism, withholding essential information.
• Physical: aggressive behaviour, physical intimidation, unwelcome physical contact up to and including assault.

The effect of bullying on an individual can be extremely destructive and have some serious consequences. If you are being bullied:

• Get support: talk to someone you trust. Contact the Welfare Officer, the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Rights Officer, your tutor, or the student counselling service.
• Make it clear to the perpetrator that the behaviour is unwelcome and unacceptable and ask them to stop.
• Keep a record of incidents that occur, witnesses, and effects on you.

Physical Violence

You don’t have to be married to be a battered woman and you don’t have to be married to seek help. Women’s Aid, which operates a number of refuges for women escaping physical, sexual or emotional abuse in the home have recently set up a telephone help line for anyone in this situation. They will be able to give you advice on the legal course of action available to you, such as how to get a Barring-Order, a Protection Order etc. They will also be able to give you information on the Battered Women’s Support Groups, Victims Support Groups and information on emergency accommodation.

Although there is often a waiting list and women with children are given a priority, Women’s Aid will do its utmost to ensure that you are given every assistance if you want to get out of an abusive situation.

College Health Service

The Health Service is located in the House 47-52 block. To get there, just go to the Beckett theatre and walk through the tunnel way and it’s on your right.

You find more information on https://www.tcd.ie/collegehealth/

College Health Centre Hours

Dr. David McGrath, Dr. Mary Sheridan and Dr. Niamh Murphy are available to see students by appointment Monday to Friday. Staff are seen between the hours of 9am and 10am. The clinic closes for lunch between 1-2pm and closes for the day at 4.40pm. The telephones are manned until 5pm – the number is 01 6081556 or 01 6081591.

Outside office hours in cases of emergency, students should contact DUBDOC (6pm - 10pm) weekdays, (11am - 6pm) weekends and Bank Holidays. The telephone number for this service is 4545607. This service is based in St. James’ Hospital. The DUBDOC triage nurse will give telephone advice, arrange a house call or offer emergency consultation with a GP on duty in St. James’ Hospital. Students (with the exception of Irish medical card holders and non-Irish EU nationals) will be responsible for any fees incurred for consultation or home visits.

Sexual Health Clinic

The Student Health Centre runs a Sexual Health Clinic two mornings a week from 9.30 – 1pm. If you have exposed yourself to STIs through unsafe sex or you want to get checked out as you are starting a new relationship, you can be screened for free by a female doctor for the following:

• Chlamydia
• HIV
• Hepatitis B
• Syphilis
• Trichomoniasas

The tests are quick and simple and the staff are understanding. Your medical records from the sexual health clinic are completely confidential, are stored anonymously and are kept separate from your regular medical record. For sexual health issues outside of these please see sex and sexuality section of this site.

Medical Cards

A student is eligible if:

• He/she is financially independent of parents. They are then assessed on their own means. However if the student is paying rent then this is taken into consideration.
• Persons aged 16 to 25 who are dependent on their parents will only be entitled to a medical card if their parents hold a medical card. Hardship cases will be dealt with individually on merit so if you feel you need a medical card, apply for one.
• If a student is on a disability allowance and has no additional income besides, he/she would qualify for a medical card.

Specific hardship e.g. asthma should be mentioned on the application form, which can be picked up in the Student Health Centre.

If you receive a medical card, notification of eligibility will be accompanied by a list of doctors, from which you must select one, whose centre of practice is within seven miles of where you live. Dr. Thomas of the TCD Student Health Centre is on this list so he is usually the one that students select. The card entitles you to:

• General practitioner (GP) treatment
• Free medicine
• Dental and optical benefits
• In-patient and Out-patient optical services
• Certain medical and surgical appliances

All N.I. and GB Students are entitled to emergency GP and hospital services free of charge on production of a European Health Insurance Card. All E.U. students in possession of a European Health Insurance Card are also entitled to GP services. For more information contact the Health Centre in College, the HSE or the Student Welfare Officer.

Dental Care

Smiles dentist on Grafton Street do a student deal for 10%:

• Scale polish: €50
• Exam: €40

If you’re short on cash you can have a free checkup in the TCD Dental School at the back of campus. Call 01 6127200 to make an appointment or for more information.

Pharmacies

TCD students can avail of a discount at any of the following pharmacies with their student card.

• Lombard Pharmacy, 32 Lombard St East, Dublin 2.
• Boots, Grafton Street, Dublin 2.
• Prices Medical Hall, 26 Clare Street, Dublin 2.
• Hickey's Pharmacies, 21 Grafton Street , Dublin 2
• Trinity Pharmacy, Nassau Street, Dublin 2.

Contraception

Condoms (sheaths, rubbers, johnnys, prophylactics)

A condom is a rubber sheath rolled over the erect penis before sexual intercourse. The condom stops the semen from entering the vagina. Sperm is often emitted before intercourse; therefore any close genital contact before foreplay may permit sperm to enter the vagina. For greater protection a woman should always use a spermicide since condoms and spermicide used together are at most 95% effective and they also increase protection against HIV.

How to use a condom confidently!

• Use a new condom every time you have sex.
• Check the use-by date on the packet.
• Check for a minimum quality assurance, e.g. British standard kitemark.
• Open the packet carefully to avoid tearing the condom.
• Make sure the condom is the right way around.
• Traces of sperm can be released before a man comes so make sure that the condom is put on before the penis gets near the vagina.
• Wait until the penis is quite hard before putting on the condom, trying to put one on a flaccid penis is almost impossible.
• Put the condom over the top of the penis, and gently pull it down a little. Then pinch the air out of the teat at the top of the condom.
• With one hand holding the teat, gently roll down the condom. Be careful, condoms are strong but they can be broken by rings or sharp fingernails.
• Roll the condom completely down to the base of the penis, otherwise it can ruck up during sex and come off inside the vagina or anus.
• If you want to use additional lubrication make sure you use a water-based lubricant like KY jelly. Oil-based ones (e.g. Vaseline) can perish rubber within minutes.
• Shortly after he comes and before the penis gets too soft, grasp the penis and the condom near the base and hold firmly whilst he pulls out.
• Gently slide the condom off, being careful not to spill any semen. Remember sperm can live for up to eight hours outside the body, so dispose of it carefully.

The Female Condom

This is still relatively new, and so no major studies have been carried out on its effectiveness but it is believed to be as safe as the male condom. It consists of a polyurethane sheath with two rings that lies in the vagina during intercourse. Unlike the male condom it can be put in anytime before sex and oil-based products can be used with the female condom, as it is made of polyurethane. When using, it is important to ensure that the penis enters the condom, rather than slipping between the condom and the vagina.

The Pill

The contraceptive pill is the most reliable method of birth control known. The method consists of taking a small oral contraceptive pill for almost all of the month. Available only on prescription, the Pill is easy to take and involves the minimum of fuss and bother. Putting it simply, the Pill stops the ripening of the Women’s eggs by rearranging the balance of her hormones. Regardless of the controversy, the Pill is still a perfectly safe method of birth control for most women. If you are considering going on the Pill you should contact your doctor, the IFPA, the Well Woman Centre or the TCD Health Centre.

• Ideally no woman taking the Pill should smoke.
• Always remember the 7-day rule if you forget to take the Pill (this means that you will need another form of contraception for a week as well as taking the Pill)
• The first and last pills in the packet are very important.
• Have a check-up every six months.

The Pill is reliable, easy to use. It produces regular periods and can ease menstrual bleeding and discomfort, and it does not interrupt sex.

Disadvantages are that birth control pills do have some undesirable side effects: nausea, weight gain, breast tenderness, headaches, spotting between periods and irritability are among the more or less minor ones. However moving to a different brand of pill can solve these. The Pill offers NO protection against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.

Remember: Some antibiotics and other prescribed drugs may stop the Pill from working, so do ask your doctor about this before going on medication.

Injectible Contraception

Although it sounds new, this contraceptive was actually first manufactured thirty years ago but did not pass heath regulations (It was believed that the use of the injectible contraceptive Depo-Provera increased the risk of breast cancer in women. It was re-launched in the 80s once the previous claims were seen to be inaccurate and that the medication was in fact perfectly safe.

Once you are injected with a dose of Depo-Provera once every twelve weeks, you only run a very slight risk of becoming pregnant (.3%) A dose costs ¤12 approximately and must be administered by a doctor.

It does have some minor side effects similar to the Pill but it contains only progesterone therefore it is only safe in those where oestrogen is contraindicated.

You do not need to remember to take pills every day, there is very small risk of pregnancy, and periods are very light.

However, periods can be very irregular, there is no protection against STDs, and other side effects include weight gain (about 5 pounds), back pain, some headaches.

This injectible contraceptive costs €140 for the contraceptive and €50 to have it injected by the TCD doctor.

The Mini-Pill

Contains only one hormone - progesterone. It works by preventing the passage of sperm through the cervical mucus. It makes the lining of the uterus hostile to the implantation of the egg and may prevent ovulation.

• It should be taken on the first day of your period.
• It should be taken at the same time each day. If taken more than three hours later than the usual time it will not be effective.
• The seven-day rule applies.
• The Mini-Pill is not adequate protection for those under 30 years of age - therefore condoms would still be required.
• It doesn’t control menstrual cycles as well as the combined pills, which contain both oestrogen and progesterone.
• No protection against STDs.

Spermicides

These include creams, jellies, peccaries and jars of foam; they are placed in the vagina near the cervix, usually by a syringe-like applicator and function by killing the sperm when it enters the vagina. Used alone they are unreliable. However they do greatly increase the reliability of condoms and caps. Insertion can be messy and troublesome. They are available from the Well Woman Centres and the Irish Family Planning Clinic. Remember that spermicides provide no protection against STDs.

The Diaphragm or Cap

This is a dome-like rubber device, which the woman inserts over the entrance to the uterus, up to three hours before having sex. It must always be used in conjunction with a spermicide. If used carefully and correctly it is 95% effective. The device prevents sperm from entering the womb and the spermicide kills them. The diaphragm must be left in place for at least eight hours but not longer than 24 hours after intercourse. If you lose or gain more than 3.5kgs (7lbs) you need to get the diaphragm rechecked. After use, clean the cap by washing it in warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Avoid disinfectants, detergents or strongly perfumed soap, as these spoil the rubber.

The I.U.D (The Inter-Uterine Device, Loop or Coil)

The coil is a small, semi-permanent device, made of either plastic or copper that is inserted in the woman’s uterus by a doctor. It prevents pregnancy by interfering with the complex chain of events that take place before the egg can become implanted in the wall of the uterus. The coil is left in place and only removed when a woman wants to become pregnant. A doctor can only remove it.

Whilst insertion is simple and reasonably effective, it is generally not suitable for young women with no children. It has many disadvantages, including increased menstrual flow and the danger of the device slipping out unnoticed. It provides no protection against STDs.

Sterilisation

For both sexes, this involves a minor operation and is generally irreversible.

For a man it is a simple operation that can be carried out under a local anaesthetic in surgery and need only take a few minutes. For a woman the most common method involves blocking the Fallopian tubes by tying, sealing or clipping them. It is carried out under general anaesthetic and can involve a short stay in hospital. Counselling is recommended for people considering sterilisation.

The Morning-After Pill

This works by altering the hormone balance, usually preventing pregnancy and involves two sets of pills that are taken twelve hours apart and must be taken within 72 hours of intercourse to be effective. This means you should see your doctor within 60 hours of intercourse, so that both pills can be taken within the time limit. The earlier the pills are taken, the more effective they are. You may be asked to sign a form clearing the doctor of responsibility if the pill fails to be effective.

Success rate: 5% risk of pregnancy midcycle, less than 1% risk at all other times. Time of next period varies depending on time of cycle when pills are taken.

You may feel or be sick, if this happens you might need to get more pills from your doctor. Not suitable for all women, your doctor will advise you. This special dose should only be used very rarely, in emergencies. The ‘Morning After’ Pill should not be used as a form of contraception.

The pill is available from the Student Health Centre in TCD at a cost of _6, the Well Woman Centres and the Irish Family Planning Clinics.

The Post-Coital I.U.D

The I.U.D is fitted within five days of intercourse or within five days of estimated date of ovulation. Clinics may very slightly on this. It works in the same way as the normal IUD though insertion can be quite painful.

The Post-Coital IUD is very effective.

It's not suitable for all women, your doctor will advise you. It can be painful to insert the device.

It's available from the Well Woman Centres and the Irish Family Planning Clinics.

Remember that the condom is the only from of contraception that offers protection from STDs and HIV. Unless you are in a single partner monogamous relationship, where both you and your partner know that you are both free from STIs and you are using another form of birth control, always use a condom.

Drugs and Alcohol - Drugaí agus Alcól

Drugs & Alcohol

College is a time of many firsts, drugs and alcohol may be some of them. TCDSU is committed to a Harm Reduction approach, which emphasises engaging directly with students who use drugs to prevent overdose and infectious disease transmission and empower students through information.

Support Services

• If you, or anyone around you, experienced negative health outcomes after drug use, contact 999 immediately. You can access healthcare services without criminal prosecution.
• The HSE runs a confidential service both as a freephone Helpline (1800 459 459) and an email support service (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you are struggling with substance-dependence. The helpline is available Mon-Fri, from 09:30-17:30.
• As a student you can book an appointment about concerns over your drug or alcohol use at Trinity’s College Health Centre. More information can be found on their websitewww.tcd.ie/collegehealth. You can book an appointment by calling 01 896 1591 or 01 896 1556.
• Alcoholics Anonymous is a free support for if you are recovering from alcoholism. Their phone number is 01 842 0700 and email isThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..www.alcoholicsanonymous.ie 
• Narcotics Anonymous is a community-based organisation for recovering addicts,www.na-ireland.org or 01 672 8000.

Information About Drugs

• For up to date information about harm reduction of different types of drugs please visit Drugs.ie atwww.drugs.ie/drugs_info/campaign/ 

Drug-Testing Kits

TCDSU provides drug-testing kits, specifically EZ Test Kits. 

We do not encourage the use of illicit substances. However, we will provide EZ Test Kits for students, who under their own volition, choose to recreationally participate in the use of drugs. Please follow the instructions included in your testing kit. These are not kits to check if you have used drugs. These kits test for the presence of a drug. Please note that the test kits can give false positives, do not state how strong the substances are, and do not protect the user from the risks of drug-taking. TCDSU does not accept any liability for students who use these kits and decide to use drugs or illicit substances.

If you’d like to enquire about these kits please contact the Welfare & Equality Officer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Gambling - Cearrbhachas

Gambling can be considered to be a problem in your life when it gets in the way with work, school or other activities, harms your mental health or physical health, creates financial struggles, or causes problems with your friends and family.

If you are affected by addictive behaviours, the Student Counselling Service runs an Addictive Behaviours support group. Other supports:

Extern Problem Gambling

Harm prevention and support

www.problemgambling.ie 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

089 241 5401

Gamblers Anonymous

Recovering from Gambling addiction (free) support

www.gamblersanonymous.ie 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

01 872 1133

Mental Health

What is Mental Health?

Mental health underwrites everything we do. If we’re not mentally healthy usually straightforward things like going to lectures, making sure to eat or even getting out of bed in the morning can be difficult. To add to this college can often have times of concentrated stress such as at exam or essay periods or in the week or so before the grant comes in. Whatever it is its really helpful to know what stresses you out before it comes up (exams!!) and how you’re going to deal with it so see the tips below and explore what makes you feel good.

The most important thing to know when experiencing mental health difficulties is that you’re not alone. Anyone can have poor mental health, whether or not they have been diagnosed with a mental illness. We all have tough times. Recent research shows that 1 in 4 college students at a given time could be experiencing mental health difficulties (My World Survey 2012). In Trinity that means over 4,000 people.

Another hugely important thing to note is that help is here. When it comes to counselling services we are blessed. We are also well located in Dublin City to take advantage of any nearby services within reach which is, comparatively, a lot.

Tips for your Mental Health

The following tips top recommended coping strategies for mental health difficulties. Including these 5 a day every day can really boost your mental health. I will mix in a few of my own that helped me when I was having issues with my mental health.

1. Connect

These words shown here are the top coping strategies for young people across Ireland (My World Survey 2012). As you can see, most of these strategies have one thing in common; connecting! Connecting is good for your wellbeing. Taking time to strengthen relationships with people close to us and to broaden relationships with our wider community is important. Sharing how we feel with others helps us to feel more understood.

Connecting is not only important for emotional support but it also helps us to develop a sense of belonging, self-worth and reduces isolation.

2. Get Active

Improved self-esteem is a key benefit of physical activity. When you exercise, the body releases feel-good hormones called endorphins. Regular exercise is proven to reduce stress, ward off anxiety and feelings of depression. It also boosts self-esteem and improves sleep.

See TCD sports centre classes https://www.tcd.ie/Sport/classes/ to blow off some steam or use the gym. A good tip is to sign up to events like a 10k that require a bit of training as they get you out and about over an extended period of time.

Student sports clubs can also be a fantastic way to meet new people while getting your body moving. We have 49! http://www.ducac.tcdlife.ie/clubs/ email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information on joining a club.

3. Notice

The benefits of being aware include increasing your knowledge and understanding of and improving self-awareness. So we encourage you to increase your awareness of positive mental health and let us know what you’ve learned. Some excellent websites we found useful include:

    www.jigsaw.ie
    www.reachout.com
    www.letsomeoneknow.ie
    www.yourmentalhealth.ie
    www.spunout.ie
    www.seechange.ie
    www.nosp.ie
    http://my.happify.com/

Call into community organisations and learn what you can, try to challenge the old stigma attached to mental health, or help to raise awareness about positive mental health. Headstrong and Jigsaw is committed to changing how Ireland thinks and acts around youth mental health – you can be part of that movement.

4. Get Involved

Getting involved relates to connecting. Volunteering connects you to others, it provides experience and teaches valuable skills, it also increases self-confidence and combats depression. So we ask you to get involved in something new within your local community. Join a new sports team, society, volunteer in a local organisation or join the Youth Advisory Panel at Jigsaw in 10 communities around Ireland. Trinity societies like Saint Vincent de Paul and SUAS offer a great chance to give back and do some positive work that can boost your mood. https://www.tcd.ie/Community/students/volunteering/

5. Give

Help out, carry out a good deed and donate time, money or clothes. There are numerous benefits to helping others, giving promotes positive psychological changes in the brain associated with happiness. It also brings a sense of belonging, reduces isolation and helps to keep things in perspective. An act of kindness creates positive emotions which help improve confidence, boost happiness and reduces stress. What’s not to like?

So why not give one of these Five A Day a try? And possibly integrate them into your daily routine to get maximum benefits.

Remember it takes 21 days to change a habit and 90 days to make it stick. Tog go Bóg e and Enjoy.

Tips from the Welfare Officer

Journaling: This has always been a huge help to me. Whether its finding somewhere to put those thoughts that are buzzing around your head or helping to put down some ideas on paper so you can keep track of them journaling can be a great help to feeling more in control of your mental health and seeing how your thoughts are in that moment. You don’t need to write or spend too much. Just a short page every night may be all you need. Easons on Nassau Street do a 2016 journal for 4.99 pages are just long enough.

CBT or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a great method for people who like an active, hands approach on for good mental health. Its about challenging negative thought patterns that can contribute to low moods and can really help to break the cycle. You can find plenty of examples of CBT worksheets online but I got my examples from Melanie Fennel’s books on self-help which are great, simple and well explained. You can work CBT into your journaling time. A good trick when you notice habits of negative thoughts is to ask, ‘what would I say to a good friend who said this?’

Invest some time in your talents. This can really help you to feel productive. Whether its drawing, singing, juggling, falconry or whatever. One thing that struck me about college is that by the time I got here I had completely changed my attitude to the things that were important to me as a kid. I realised that stress about career, grades and my social life had made me feel guilty about spending time doing things I truly loved. Deliberately setting aside time for these things is a way of saying that what makes you feel good about yourself is important and that the things you love matter. Some things I do are; draw with charcoals, play my guitar, practice speaking Spanish, get outside and go for a walk, play 5-a-side soccer.

Doing things just for you: Sometimes we feel guilty for making things all about us but this is a necessary part of life. Part of being an adult is caring for yourself so every once in a while give yourself permission to be your own best friend. Take yourself to the cinema (my personal favourite), cook yourself a nice dinner, get a haircut, do your nails or just take the time to sit back and draw or play/ listen to music.

Make a two week chart of things you can do for your mental health and tick off what you do each day. This will help you notice what is most effective for you. This is one I happened upon recently and has given me a much more nuanced understanding of why my moods dip when they do. I discovered that I need exercise, time alone, time to work on my talents and to eat 3 meals a day.

Sleep – has a huge impact on your mental health. Not only does your mind work things out while your snoozing (hence the expression ‘’sleep on it’’) but sleep helps to regulate the body chemicals which make the day go more smoothly. 8 hours is recommended but don’t feel guilty its not always possible.

3 meals a day and 8 glasses of water. Not only does the routine of regular eating help to structure your day and help you feel less stressed but your brain needs certain nutrients and plenty of water to stay focused.

Mindfullness meditation: It took me a long time to understand what this was and a great many uncomfortable hours sitting (almost) cross-legged on the floor but I eventually reasoned that it is about focus. The ability to focus on a singular task makes that task easier and collectively breaking the day into small focused tasks has a sort of domino effect. Coupled with that, practicing the ability to relax and to tune out stressors can have a massively positive effect in helping us stay balance. TCD Meditation society hold classes. https://www.facebook.com/TCDMeditationSociety/?fref=ts and the counselling service have many drop in mindfulness sessions on their website.

Contraception is an important part of having safe sex - it can protect against some STIs and pregnancy when used correctly. There are many ways to have safe sex! Contraception comes in many forms so it’s important to find what works best for you. For an up to date guide on the different options available check onwww.sexualwellbeing.ie!A guide on what you need to know about contraception is availablehere(including in other languages).

Common contraceptives include:

• The pill or mini pill
• Condoms or the female condom
• Diaphragm
• The IUD
• Spermicides
• The Coil
• The patch
• Injectable contraception
• The ring

The HSE provides colleges with free condoms and lubricant for students to avail of. House 6 will always have a stock if you need some!

Free Contraception

Women and people with a uterus aged 17 to 25 can get contraception for free. For more information on what costs are covered and how you can avail of free contraception visitwww.sexualwellbeing.ie.   

Emergency Contraception

There are different emergency contraception choices for different situations, depending on when you had your last period and how long it has been since you had unprotected sex or if your contraceptive method has failed. Emergency contraception is more effective the sooner you take it after having unprotected sex.

Ask a pharmacist (chemist) for a private consultation or talk to a doctor or Family Planning Clinic about the best option for you. You can also use this time to discuss regular contraception.

Information on the types of emergency contraception is availablehere. 

Consent is where there is free and voluntary agreement to engage in a sexual act with someone else. It is a crime to engage in a sexual act with someone who has not given consent. This law is set out in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2017. 

It is important to know that even if you consent to a sexual act, you are absolutely free to change your mind before the act begins or at any time before it ends.

Remember that Consent isFRIES:

• Freely-given
• Retractable
• Informed
• Enthusiastic
• Specific

Freely Given:

Doing something sexual with someone is a decision that should be made without pressure, force, manipulation, or while drunk or high.

Retractable:

Anyone can change their mind about what they want to do, at any time. Even if you’ve done it before or are in the middle of having sex.

Informed:

Be honest. For example, if someone says they’ll use a condom and then they don’t, that’s not consent. If someone has taken a lot of alcohol or drugs, we can’t be sure we have informed consent. 

Enthusiastic:

If someone isn’t excited, or really into it, that’s not consent. 

Specific:

Saying yes to one thing (like going to the bedroom to make out) doesn’t mean they’ve said yes to others (like oral sex). Consent is applies to specific acts on specific occasions.

This is a move away from the traditional ‘no means no’ understanding of consent, and it’s important that we as first responders are familiar with this model too.

Together Consent 

Together Consent is Trinity College Dublin's sexual consent education programme. Founded in 2016, they began facilitating consent workshops that year. They are proud to be at the forefront of Consent Education in Third Level Education in Ireland. 

Information from Student Counselling Services, Trinity College Dublin. 

Porn Use

Porn can be a good think: it can be used as a way to relax, as a coping tool and to blow off steam. It can be stimulating and exciting, as well as enjoyable.

But - too much of a good thing? Excessive use of porn can also have a negative impact. It can lead to spending long periods of time online, irgnoring important tasks, retreating from other interested or finding it hard to relate to another person.

The more porn our brain consumes, the higher the response threshold becomes. What used to be satisfying now doesn’t have the same effect and a higher impact is required for a sexual response.

How Do You Engage with Porn?

Porn is a form of entertainment and it’s imporatnat that we are critical of the entertainment we consume. 

For example, we might watch a movie like ‘The Fast and the Furious’ for entertainment. We might watch it for the fantasy, a bit of fun, to share with others - but we don’t watch it to learn how to drive.

Porn is the exact same. As a form of entertainment, it’s important to be able to critique what you’re viewing and not take it literally. Ask yourself what does it get right? Representation of sexual identities, sexploring sexualitiy, validate sexual interests, ackowledigng human needs. But aso what is it missing? Conversations about consent, communication, unrealistic standards, contraception, enforcing stereotypes?

Questioning porn helps you better enjoy it. Be aware of what you’re watching and normalise talking about it.

What’s Your Porn Use Like?

Using porn is normal. It is a normal human sexual behaviour, but it’s just as important HOW we engage with it. 

Consuming porn responsibly means thinking about what porn means in your life. You engage with it in a way that is consistent with your values. Think about the values and beliefs that you hold around sexuality and sexual behaviours. How does that translate for you with the porn you consume? Ethical porn use is about responsibly and interntionally supporting ethical sexual values (David Ley, Clinical Pschologist).

Two main questions to consider for responsible porn use:

1. Am I being responsible about the behaviours I’m normalising myself to?
2. Is my porn use disturbing my daily activities or upsetting people I care about?

Concerned about your porn use? Help is availble! 

If your porn use is becoming more of a problem than a pleasure - reach out and talk about it.

Find someone you trust and share how you’re feeling with them. It might feel embarrassing or difficult but helpful to have someone who understands in your corner.

You can also find support at Addiction Recovery and Wellbeing Group:

• Every Tuesday 6pm
• Student Counselling Services
• 3rd Floor, 7-9 Leinster Streeth South

EmailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions!

For more information on porn literacy visit: www.bewiser.ie/talk-about-porn 

Unplanned pregnancies can produce feelings of shock, and be an isolating experience especially for students. If you find yourself in this situation contact a GP at the Health Centre, the counselling service or the Welfare & Equality Officer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss your options in complete confidence. Pregnancy tests are available at all pharmacies. College Health Service also offers pregnancy tests for €10.

Here are some external supports that you may find helpful:

IRISH FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION

Sexual Health Charity

www.ifpa.ie

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

01 607 4456 

MY OPTIONS

Information including continued pregnancy supports and abortion services

www.myoptions.ie

1800 828 010

WELL WOMAN CENTRE

Range of primary health care services, family planning, counselling and sexual health services

www.wellwomancentre.ie

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01 874 9243

College defines sexual harassment as ‘any attempt to coerce an unwilling member of the college into a sexual relationship or to subject such a person to unwanted sexual attention, or to punish a refusal to comply or to create a sexucal intimidatory, hostile or offensive environment’. It includes all forms of harassment from unpleasant remarks to sexual assault.

If you’ve had a non-consensual experience or would like to talk to someone about issues regarding consent you chat with the SU Welfare & Equality Officer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), the Student Counselling Team (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), Niteline, or the College Health Team (www.tcd..ie/collegehealth). All are highly trained, confidential and non-judgemental sources of support.

The ‘What do I do now’ document gives an overview of what to do regarding disclosures of assault and rape in college. Checkbit.ly/SAdisclosuretcd for more information.

Speak Out Tool

Report an incident on the Speak Out tool anonymouslyhere.

Speak Out is an online and anonymous reporting tool for higher education institutions in Ireland.  It provides a platform for Trinity College Dublin students and staff to voluntarily and anonymously report, in a safe and secure way, incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, discrimination, hate crime, coercive behaviour or control, stalking, assault, sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape that you have either experienced or witnessed.  

Speak Out is a national initiative led by the Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education Ireland (PCHEI), funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and supported by the HEA Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Reporting anonymously using Speak Out means that you will not be asked for your name or any other personal details about you or another person and the University will not take any specific action or commence any formal complaint process. 

The Speak Out site collects information on your experiences and that information allows us to develop and deliver initiatives aimed at raising awareness of, and taking steps to eliminate, this type of behaviour in the UCC community.  Speak Out also allows the University to direct you to helpful supports and provides information relating to a range of options that can assist you in dealing with incidents of discrimination, bullying, harassment and/or sexual misconduct. 

More information regarding the Speak Out tool can be foundhere.

Trinity Student Support

https://www.tcd.ie/equality/speak-out/support/student-support/  

External supports

• DUBLIN RAPE CRISIS CENTRE

Support for Survivors

www.drcc.ie

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

1800 778 888

• ONE IN FOUR

Support for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse

www.oneinfour.ie

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01 662 4070

• SEXUAL ASSAULT TREATMENT UNIT

Information on all your care options if you have been raped or sexually assaulted

www.hse.ie/satu 

• WOMEN’S AID

Domestic violence support

www.womensaid.ie

1800 341 900

You can book a cervical check smear test or attend Sexual Health Clinics through the College Health Centre. They also run mini screens with a nurse, as well as sexual health clinics with a doctor or nurse. 

For more info check the College Health website (https://www.tcd.ie/collegehealth/service/specialised.php) or call them on 01 896 1591 or 01 896 1556.

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an infection that is passed on through sexual contact with someone who is infected. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the human immune system and weakens its ability to fight infection and disease. 

How to prevent STIs:

• Use a condom
• Use a dental dam
• Do not share sex toys
• Get vaccinated
• Use PEP is you may have been exposed to HIV
• PrEP if you are HIV negative

Pregnancy Advice

Cherish, 2 Pembroke Road, Dublin 2. Tel: 6629212

Barnardo’s Adoption Counselling Service, Christchurch Square, Dublin 8 Tel: 4546388

Single Parents

Cherish (Association of one-parent families), 2 Pembroke Rd, Dublin 2. Tel: 6629212

Gingerbread, 29 Dame St., Dublin 2. Tel: 6710291

Treoir (Federation of services for unmarried parents and their children) National Information Centre, 36 Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin 6. Tel: 4964155. Free information packs.

Sexual Abuse / Rape

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, 70 Lr. Leeson St. Tel: 6614911. Helpline, Freephone 1800 778888

Childline (for children) Freephone 1800 666 666

Women’s Aid Helpline Tel: 1800 341900

Rotunda hospital, Tel: 87730700 (Ask to be put through to the Sexual Assault Unit)

CARI (anyone affected by child sexual abuse) Helpline: 1890-924567

Alcohol Addiction

Alcoholics Anonymous, Service Office, 109 South Circular Road, Dublin 8. Tel: 4538998

AA after hours phone service, Tel: 6795967 (6.30pm-10pm, Monday-Friday, 10am-10pm weekends and bank holidays)

Mental Health

If every day feels like Monday Morning, you could be suffering from a mental health illness. Whatever the case, you never need to suffer in silence. 300,000 people in Ireland suffer with depression, 10,000 are hospitalised each year because of depression.

Contact Aware: 1890 303 302 (Available Monday – Sunday, 10am to 10pm.)

Samaratins: 01 116123 (Available 24 hours)

Niteline (student run service): 1800793793

Social Welfare

For information on maternity benefits, Tel: 7043475

For information on social, community and family affairs, Tel: 8748444

Drugs

Narcotics Anonymous, Friends Meeting House, Eustace St., Temple Bar, Dublin 2. Tel: 8300944 ext: 486.

Health Promotion Unit, Department of Health, Hawkins House, Dublin 2.Tel: 671 4711

Drug Squad, Harcourt Sq., Harcourt St., Dublin 2. Tel: 8732222

STDs / HIV / Aids

Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine, St. James’ Hospital, 1 James St., Dublin 8. Tel: 4535245 (Walk in clinic for STD patients, Mon. 9.30-11am. Thurs.1.30-3pm).

HIV Ireland – 70 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Tel:(0)1 873 3799 (10am-5.30pm Monday-Friday)

Cancer

Irish Cancer Society, 5 Northumberland Road, Dublin 4.Tel: 6681233. Helpline: 1800 200 700.

Legal Aid Centre

Free Legal Advice Centres,13 Lower Dorset Street,Dublin 1, Legal Information & Referral Lines: 1890 350 250 / 01-874 5690

Full time 10am - 12.30pm and 2pm - 4pm Monday - Friday

45 Lower Gardiner St., Dublin 1. Tel: 8745440

9, Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1. Tel: 8724133

47 Upper Mount St., Dublin 2. Tel: 6623655

44/49 Main Street, Finglas, Dublin 11 Tel: 8640314

Tower Centre, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Tel: 4576011

Village Green, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Tel: 4511519.

Eatign Disorders

Eating disorders are a way of coping with painful feelings which are difficult to talk about. They are an unconscious attempt to avoid these feelings or keep them under control. Eating disorders are: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder.

Bodywhys provide help, support and understanding for these eating disorders.

Bodywhys operate a helpline manned by trained volunteers. Helpline: 01 283 5126

Operating hours: Mon 7.30 – 9.30 pm, Tues 12.30 – 2.30 pm, Wed 7.30 – 9.30 pm, Thurs 10.00 – 12am, Fri 12.30 pm – 2.30 pm

For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ring 01 283 4963