With schools finishing up soon for the summer holidays, parents are being encouraged to talk to their children and teenagers about the dangers of using alcohol and drugs. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging parents not to be afraid to talk about the subject and highlight the risks associated with drinking alcohol and taking drugs. The PHA’s Drugs and Alcohol lead Michael Owen said: “Many teenagers will be spending more time with friends over the coming months, possibly going to gigs and festivals, and perhaps even heading off on their first solo holiday, which could lead to drinking or

A conference to discuss the overarching policies and actions needed to improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities for the people of Northern Ireland has drawn almost 200 participants from across the region. The impact of economic factors on health and wellbeing, as well as reframing the conversation around what are the determinants of health were just two topics under the spotlight at the Making Life Better (MLB) – Creating the Conditions for Collaboration Conference. The event was organised by the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Department of Health. As part of the day-long

Accidents are the main cause of death for children post-infancy, with many occurring in the home. During Child Safety Week (3-9 June) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting steps to make your home as safe as possible. Hilary Johnston, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager with the PHA, said: “None of us wants to think about anything bad happening to our children, so it is important that we don’t ignore the risks but take steps to reduce the likelihood of children having an accident around the home. “Accidents often happen when we’re distracted and can happen alarmingly

A new programme aimed at offering advice to pharmacy customers on public health issues is being launched by the Public Health Agency (PHA), the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and Community Pharmacy NI (CPNI). The ‘Living Well’ service will commence on 1 June and will provide information and advice on key public health issues. Community pharmacists and staff in over 500 pharmacies in Northern Ireland will proactively deliver the programme. There are two elements to Living Well. Firstly, opportunistic interventions to help reduce risk factors which cause illness in Northern Ireland. Issues

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is using World No Tobacco Day to raise awareness about free Stop Smoking Services available in communities across Northern Ireland. The network of free services offer tailored advice and support to help you quit for good. Promoting the range of services available, Séamus Mullen, the PHA’s Health Improvement strategic lead on smoking, said: “Quitting smoking is one of the proactive steps you can take to improve your health and general wellbeing, with benefits also for your finances and general appearance. “Smoking cessation services are a major building block