DCU launches health charter for 20,000 students and staff

Dublin City University has committed to a charter developed to improve the health and well-being of almost 20,000 students and staff at the university's three campuses in North Dublin.

The “DCU Healthy Charter” was devised as part of plans to achieve the designation of a “Health Promoting University” by 2022.

The university says the charter will guide health promotion in a comprehensive and coordinated manner and to facilitate a “whole-university” approach to the health and wellbeing of students and staff.

The approach was inspired by the World Health Organisation’s Health Promoting Schools model, a framework designed to strengthen schools’ capacity to promote healthy living, learning and working conditions.

Prof Daire Keogh, Deputy President of DCU, said: "The health and wellbeing of all our students and staff is a priority for us at DCU, so I am delighted to see the Healthy Charter being launched today.

“In taking a ‘whole university’ approach, we want to ensure that everyone will have an opportunity to both educate themselves and to take action on their own health,” he said.

The programme will be led by the university’s Department of Sports and Wellbeing and will target areas including mental health, healthy eating, physical activity, alcohol and drugs and sexual health.

Director of Sports and Wellbeing, James Galvin said the charter represents the DCU's "first step" towards becoming a "Health Promoting University".

“This charter and framework looks to integrate health and wellbeing into the culture, processes and policies of DCU. It also demonstrates our strong commitment to health, wellbeing and providing a transformative experience for our shared community,” he said.

Under the charter students and staff will be linked to support services to meet their health and wellbeing needs and to facilitate opportunities for participants to learn about and take actions to enhance health and wellbeing.

Students’ Union Vito Moloney Burke said: “Today highlights a deep commitment to the health and wellbeing of the DCU community from a wide variety of staff and stakeholders, which is what makes the occasion so heartening. A cohesive approach to tackle the many issues facing today’s generation of students is the one that will ultimately prove to be the most effective.

“Through this, students have been provided with an opportunity to vocalise exactly what aspects of health and wellbeing they believe need to be addressed, a crucial aspect of the charter.

“This is an exciting moment, as it marks the continuation of our bid to see the student body overcome the hurdles of today and continue to prosper.”