Jigsaw-youngballymun Lunchtime Lecture Series

Our second 2010 lecture was on the 17th of February with a talk entitled “Crisis Pregnancy” from Orla McGowan Education and Information Officer with of the HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme (formally the Crisis Pregnancy Agency). Orla has thorough knowledge of the Agency’s research and has developed a number of relationships and sex education resources for young people, parents, teachers and youth workers.

The lecture provided the audience with an introduction to crisis pregnancy. Orla explained that 12% of all pregnancies are crisis pregnancies, most people who have a crisis pregnancy are in their early 20s. The majority are in a relationship of some kind and low levels of education and being from a poorer background are linked to a greater risk of crisis pregnancy.

As well as giving statistical information Orla took the audience through a variety of education and media campaigns run by the HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme, these included:
• National Advertising Campaign to raise awareness of crisis pregnancy counselling services which ran on TV, radio, and online ads. Freetext list to 50444 for a list of counselling services.
• “Think Contraception” aimed at 18 – 24 year olds, www.thinkcontraception.ie which is promoted at music festivals and sporting events. The web site also includes a new game for 18+’s which takes them through a scenario where they have to make choices relating to contraception.  
• Busybodies is a booklet on puberty for 10-14 year old children and their parents which is made freely available in schools. Freetext busy followed by your name and address to 50444 to get a free copy.
• “You Can Talk to Me” is a DVD and booklet for parents of 11-15 year olds on talking to their children about relationships and sexual health. Freetext parent followed by your name and address to 50444 to get a free copy. 
• www.b4udecide.ie aims to encourage teenagers to make healthy responsible decisions about relationships and sexual health. There are sections for teachers and youth workers on the site regarding training and resources available to them. 

The lecture was attended by over twenty practitioners coming from a wide range of professional settings including employment, education, health, youth and addiction services. Places can be booked for the next lecture on the 3rd of March 2010 “Bereavement and Young People” which will be delivered by Helen Fagan a bereavement counsellor working in Barnardos Bereavement Counselling for Children. Contact Catherine McGowan for more details catherine@youngballymun.org.