Foreword

I welcome the publication of The Health of Irish Students report which provides

very useful information about young people in the college environment. The

Report consists of two parts, the College Lifestyle and Attitudinal National

Survey (CLAN) and a Qualitative Evaluation of the College Alcohol Policy

Initiative. Together, they provide a very concrete and practical basis for Colleges

to move forward in the future in improving the welfare of their students. 

In 2001, the Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Health and Children, as

part of its remit under the National Alcohol Policy to reduce alcohol related

harm, assisted the National Working Group on Alcohol in Higher Education in

producing the Framework for Developing a College Alcohol Policy.  This

Framework provides the basis for individual colleges to form their own policies

which reflect the needs and aspirations of their college environment.  

The evaluation of the college alcohol policy initiative demonstrates that many

colleges developed and implemented college alcohol policies with strong

commitment from student services staff and student unions officers. Colleges

recognised the critical importance of an environmental approach in preventing

and reducing alcohol related harm, a key objective of the National Health

Promotion Strategy.

The CLAN report provides a national profile of the lifestyle habits of students in

relation to accidents and injuries, alcohol, diet, drugs, exercise, general health,

mental health, sexual health, and smoking. It is evident from a brief review of

CLAN that mental health, alcohol related harm and sexual health are inter related

and do impact on student well being.  CLAN provides a valuable insight into

student life, complements other national lifestyle reports and provides a baseline

by which future trends and developments can be monitored.  

The Health Promotion Unit is a key partner in the development of the Health

Promotion Colleges Network.  The information in this report will provide a useful

resource for the network, as well as providing the strategic direction for effective

policy and programme planning, both in the health services and for those

involved in college management. I see the Report as a further step in assisting

colleges in addressing the health and welfare issues which impact on the lives of

their students.  

Sean Power T.D.

Minister of State at the 

Department of Health and Children

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