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By Fiona Smith @FiFilebon As we continue through the darkest days of winter, many of us will feel the lack of warmth and light affecting our mood. While that’s only natural, the spectre of Seasonal Affective Disorder, somewhat cheesily acronymed SAD, looms large in Ireland. Our weather afflictions – on top of the fact that the clocks go back an hour each autumn – mean...
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By Fiona Smith @FiFilebon Hip Hop Psych, an interesting initiative by Dr Akeem Sule and Dr Becky Inkster was revealed in The Lancet medical journal lately. They are conducting a Cambridge University study on the beneficial effects of hip-hop on mental health, with regards to the often positive social messages in the lyrics. The initiative aims to use hip-hop to help improve mental health and...
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EXCITEMENT is building in the First Fortnight camp ahead of our really unique event – Co-Motion, a musical walking experience. Hundreds of people are expected to gather in St Stephen’s Green on January 4th, armed with their four-song playlist of “songs that get them through”. They’ll then be paired up with another randomly selected participant. While the idea of putting a playlist together is pretty...
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ANYONE who has sat down and written a song, a poem or painted a picture can probably attest to the fact that creating art can be quite therapeutic. First Fortnight’s Louise Quinn and Eithne McAdam have taken this idea further through their work with members of the homeless community who are experiencing mental ill-health, and helping them through the means of art therapy. Having studied...
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By Fiona Smith IF YOU’RE feeling chronically low or anxious, please bear in mind that the best thing to do is seek professional advice and treatment. But for those times when the pressure is starting to filter in at the edges or you’re just having a bad day, there are a few simple tricks you can try to help you push on through. #462770777 /...
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By Cian Murray (Twitter @CianMur) Confucius said: “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Although my research is not extensive, I am pretty sure the Chinese philosopher was not referring to tandem skydives when he shared this wisdom. Today (September 13) several volunteers will hurl themselves out of a plane in the middle of the Irish Midlands....
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By Fiona Smith #88988529 / gettyimages.com BUZZ ALDRIN It’s the 45th anniversary of the moon landing – and in his book Return to Earth the astronaut recounts the surreal experience of being among the first to walk its surface. But it also touches on a much darker place. Despite the adulation that came with the whole lunar stroll thing, Buzz entered into a deep depression...
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Those of you who attended the Best Table Quiz of All Time last year will be happy to know that besides working away on programming First Fortnight 2015, we’re also in the midst of working on some fundraising projects. It’s A Table Quiz being one of them. On August 14th get yourself and three of your smartest mates down to dTwo on Harcourt Street where...
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We work hard to make First Fortnight happen. We work long hours in our so-called real jobs and then work longer in our so-called free time to keep this thing afloat and keep our message out there. It’s hard at times. In fact it’s hard a lot of the time. And I have no problem admitting that quite often I wonder why I still do...
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First Fortnight is looking for volunteers to assist with its media and PR campaign ahead of the 2015 Festival this January. You may be someone working in journalism or PR or you may be a blogger, journalist, videographer or PR student with an interest in mental health and looking to gain some experience at working on a festival or health-focused media campaign. The roles will involve...
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