The Public Health Agency (PHA) is working with the organisers of this year’s Outburst Queer Arts Festival to promote important information about protecting and promoting sexual health. The ninth annual festival, which launches tomorrow [12 November], includes film, theatre performances, and visual art celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

A handy new shower card which shows women what signs to look out for when it comes to spotting possible breast cancer has been launched by the Public Health Agency and breast cancer charity Pretty ‘n’ Pink. The waterproof card, which is designed to be kept in the bathroom or bedroom as a reminder to check your breasts regularly, carries top tips and images highlighting key symptoms.

Sunbeds are a popular way to top up a fading summer tan or to get one in time for the Christmas party season, but with evidence of health risks associated with sunbed use, the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland are encouraging people to think twice before using them – it isn’t worth the risk. Dr Miriam McCarthy, Consultant in Public Health at the PHA, said: “Modern sunbeds work by exposing the user to UV radiation which can be the equivalent of Mediterranean sunlight at midday in August.

It’s National Stress Awareness Day today so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging employers and employees to take practical steps to deal with stress in work life. The theme of this year’s National Stress Awareness Day is ‘Employee Wellbeing as a Worthwhile Investment in Your Business’. “A certain level of stress is part of daily life,” said Amanda O’Neill, Senior Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Officer with the PHA.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding women who are 28 weeks pregnant or more to get the whooping cough vaccine as it can protect your newborn baby in their first weeks of life against whooping cough. There has been an increase in the number of cases of whooping cough (pertussis) in Northern Ireland, with 79 confirmed cases so far this year. The total confirmed cases for the whole of 2014 was 33. The total in 2013 was 54, but there aren’t as many this year as in 2012 which saw 314 cases.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to take simple steps to reduce their chances of having a stroke, ahead of World Stroke Day on 29 October. A stroke can strike at any time, and everyone can reduce their risk of stroke and think FAST if they see the symptoms. Top tips:

Issued on behalf of the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care. Public information website on palliative care launched. It’s time to take the scare out of palliative care – that’s the message this week as a Northern Ireland wide public information campaign gets underway. Palliative Care Week is highlighting that a palliative care approach improves quality of life for different people in many different care settings – the home, in a nursing home, in a hospital, or in hospice.