Mental Health First Aid Training Programme

The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training Programme for Northern Ireland has been adapted from the original MHFA programme established in Australia by Betty Kitchener and Anthony Jorm. MHFA is the help provided to a person who is developing a mental health problem or who is currently in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until professional help is available or until the crisis resolves. More than 4,500 people have attended MHFA training in Northern Ireland since it began in 2009 following a successful pilot in 2005.

The aims of MHFA are to:

Businesses back breastfeeding

Businesses can play a key role in boosting breastfeeding rates in Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency (PHA) has said. To coincide with world breastfeeding week (1 – 7 August), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the PHA has revealed that over 300 businesses and public facilities here have already signed up to support and welcome breastfeeding families as part of a PHA scheme, and more are joining all the time.

West Belfast Eye Health Equity Profile

The West Belfast Eye Health Equity Profile is a working report designed to inform the development of the Community Engagement Project (CEP) for the RNIB and provide information for a wider Eye Health Strategy for the Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) with the aim of improving the equity, outcomes and quality of life for people with or at risk of poor eye health.

To mark World Hepatitis Day the PHA is urging those at risk to get tested

Ahead of World Hepatitis Day on Saturday 28 July, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people who think they may be at risk from hepatitis infection to get tested. One in 12 people worldwide is living with either chronic hepatitis B or C. The latest figures from the PHA show that laboratory reported cases of Hepatitis B and C in Northern Ireland have increased slightly since 2010. Latest figures show that in 2011 92 cases of hepatitis B and 113 cases of hepatitis C were recorded compared to 80 cases of hepatitis B and 106 of hepatitis C in 2010.

You don’t have to be Paddy Barnes to get Olympic active!

With preparations for the Olympics in full swing, boxer Paddy Barnes has teamed up with the Public Health Agency (PHA) to encourage people of all ages to use the games as inspiration to get active. Medal-winning Olympian and Commonwealth champion Barnes said: “As someone who will be participating in the London games, I have a rigorous fitness regime. However, you don’t need to train like a boxer to keep fit.

Public health messages take to the road!

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) today launched a joint pilot initiative to display important public health messages on ambulances. Over the coming months 19 Emergency and PCS ambulances (non-emergency patient transport) across Belfast and South Eastern areas will be used for carrying life-saving messages. The PHA’s F.A.S.T campaign, which raises public awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke and actions to take if you think someone is having one, will be the first public health message carried on Northern Ireland ambulances.
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