USI launches Sexual Health “SHAG” campaign
“Whoever you like this Valentine’s Day, love safer sex”
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) launches its Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance (SHAG) campaign this week in collaboration with the HSE Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme, Durex, MSD Ireland and a broad range of organisations working in the area of sexual health. The campaign, which will be rolled out in campuses across Ireland over the next fortnight, was launched at a comedy gig ‘Johnny’s got you covered’ in the Odeon, Harcourt Street, yesterday [Thursday] evening.
Irish research has found that 80% of young people use contraception every single time they have sex. That means 20% – or one in five – take risks from time to time and can end up contracting an STI or having an unplanned pregnancy. We also know that in 2013 three-quarters of chlamydia cases were reported in people aged less than 30 years, with the largest proportion aged 20-24 years (42.2%).
The USI SHAG campaign is intended to raise awareness of sexual health among students in the hope that those who are sexually active will have enjoyable, consensual, safer sex and will get tested regularly for STIs.
Greg O’Donoghue, USI Vice President for Welfare: “Sexuality is an integral part of being human, whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, straight or however you define yourself. A healthy sexual relationship can contribute to an overall sense of wellbeing. Because of that, this year’s SHAG campaign is bigger than ever. We’ve a whole week dedicated to the SHAG roadshow and SHAG.usi.ie website that exclusively targets third level students. We’re confident that the campaign’s message will resonate with young people across the country. We want to promote positive attitudes towards sex and raise awareness of the importance of STI screening. ”
Helen Deely, Head of the Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme: “SHAG week is part of an ongoing campaign to engage students on issues relating to their sexual health. We are delighted to be working with USI and broad range of organisations working in the area of sexual health on this initiative. It is vital that all sexually active adults look after their sexual health and correctly and consistently use contraception, particularly condoms, to combat the high numbers of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among the 20-29 age group and to address the issue of unplanned pregnancy.”
Ciarán Collins, Brand & Customer Manager for Women’s Health at MSD: “When it comes to making a decision on contraception, condoms or the pill may be the first things that spring to mind for many people. While very valuable, these options depend greatly on being used correctly and on being remembered to be used to reliably avoid pregnancy. It is therefore also important for people to be aware of the full range of contraception options that are available, from condoms and the pill, to the various forms of long-acting reversible contraception for example, which are less prone to user error or forgetfulness. For more information on these options this SHAG week, visit TalkOptions.ie.”
USI, along with sexual health organisations will be visiting various campuses nationwide during the week 9th – 12th of February for a Sexual Health Education Roadshow. The colleges involved in the roadshow are:
Mon 9th – DIT Aungier Street
Tue 10th – Waterford IT
Wed 11th – NUI Galway
Thur 12th – Carlow I
Notes:
40,000 SHAG packs will be distributed to college campuses. The packs contain a condom, a sachet of lubricant and information regarding safer sex and STIs. In addition, the packs will include a copy of “Talk Options – Contraception: The Options” an information booklet provided in partnership with MSD in Ireland. The HSE and the GUIDE Clinic, St James Hospital, in conjunction with USI will also be providing free STI screening as a pilot initiative to students in DIT Aungier Street & Carlow IT.
As part of SHAG Week, the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), in partnership with Dublin AIDS Alliance, have developed a new infographic highlighting options available to young people when faced with the possibility of having had unprotected sex. The tool emphasises the importance of accessing both STI testing and emergency contraception services and sign posts young people to longer term contraception options and crisis pregnancy counselling centres. The infographic is funded by the HSE Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme and will be piloted in third level colleges during SHAG week and a web-enabled version is available on www.ifpa.ie.
Organisations supporting the campaign:
HSE Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme & Johnny’s got you covered
HSE Gay Men’s Health Service & man2man.ie
Dublin Aids Alliance
SpunOut.ie
AIDS West
GOSHH (formally the Red Ribbon project)
Sexual Health Centre, Cork
BelongTo
Gay Health Network
Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA)
Cura
Rape Crisis Network
Here2help
Contacts:
Ben Archibald, USI GM: 0858490065
Greg O’Donoghue: 087 299 1265
Research sources:
Irish Contraception and Crisis Pregnancy Study – 2010
HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre, 2013
