October is Stoptober, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all smokers in Northern Ireland to use this as an opportunity to quit for good. Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness, premature death and health inequality throughout Northern Ireland and sadly one in every two smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all women to ‘be breast aware’ and to think about attending for screening when invited. In 2014/15 a total of 76,661 women aged 50–70 were invited for screening, with 57,758 attending. This means that over three quarters of the women who were invited took up the offer of screening mammography. “Prevention and early detection are key to saving lives from breast cancer,” said Dr Sinéad McGuinness, Specialty Registrar in Public Health Medicine at the PHA.

As thousands of students begin a new year at college or university, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is using the opportunity to raise awareness about student mental health.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding all people aged 70 and 78 years old that they are eligible to receive the shingles vaccine. The vaccine will help protect them against this common and painful disease and its complications. The shingles vaccine will be offered routinely to people who were aged 70 years on 1 September 2016 (born between 2 September 1945 and 1 September 1946 inclusive); and as part of a catch-up programme, also to those aged 78 on 1 September (born between 2 September 1937 and 1 September 1938 inclusive).

‘Break the silence, reach for help’ is an initiative being launched today to highlight the support that is available for family members who are affected by a loved one’s drinking and/or drug misuse and encourage them to get help in their own right.

Over 65s are being offered free home safety checks thanks to a Public Health Agency (PHA) partnership with Belfast City Council, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Bryson Energy. Through the Belfast Handyperson Home Safety & Repair Scheme, a Handyperson will visit the older person’s property and identify areas of risk and give information, advice and support on how to make the home safer, and provide a home safety pack.

A new dementia campaign #STILLME was launched yesterday [Tuesday 20 September] to raise awareness of the signs of dementia, and to reduce stigma and fear about the condition.

Autumn marks the official start of the seasonal flu vaccination programme for 2016/2017, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to ensure that all eligible family members get the free flu vaccine when offered it. The vaccine changes each year to cover the strains which are likely to be prevalent over the course of the flu season, so it is important to get immunised annually.