DCU Business School Social Innovation Hackathons: Day One (Mental Health and Wellbeing) in recap

Monday, March 9th marked the opening day of DCU Business School’s 5-day Social Innovation Hackathon series, Hack4Change, taking place in the U Building on the DCU Glasnevin campus.

DCU Business School Social Innovation Hackathons

Undergraduate Business students worked in teams during the Hackathon to find innovative solutions to societal issues. The theme for day one is Mental Health and Wellbeing. The areas of mental health and wellbeing have received heightened attention in Ireland in recent times, and for good reason. A recent ESRI report indicates that the level of job stress in Ireland has doubled in the last five years, while the USI’s first National Student Mental Health Survey reports that a third of students are experiencing “extremely severe levels of anxiety.” 

Throughout the collaborative day-long event over 120 students attended talks and received coaching from some of Ireland’s top thought leaders in the health and wellness industries. The aim of these sessions was to empower, educate and inspire the students to create innovative concepts which can be turned into new ventures. The speakers, mentors and judges came from a variety of backgrounds and sectors, ranging from mental health professionals to founders of wellness start-ups to wellbeing coaches. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Damien Clarke, Founder and CEO of Zeminar, while the ‘lightning talks’ were led by Colin Keogh, Michael Craig, Daniel Twomey, Will Ben Sims, Caroline Mahon, Laoise McGrath, Aisling Doherty, and Paul Byrne, among others.

Irish Life Health and Dublin City Council sponsored day one of the DCU Hack4Change series.

Other sponsors and support include Jameson Graduate Programme, National Transport Authority, Simventure, Melissa Curry, PWC, Responsible Innovation Summit, and the Rapid Foundation.