During Dying Matters Awareness Week (18-24 May 2015) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging everyone to take the opportunity to talk openly with those closest to them about dying, death and bereavement.

Each year, millions of infections around the world could be prevented through ensuring good hand hygiene. With farmers particularly exposed to potentially harmful organisms through their contact with animals and soil, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is using technology at this year’s Balmoral Show to highlight the need for everyone to ‘clean your hands’.

Primary school pupils in Lisburn have graduated with flying colours from Early Intervention Lisburn’s ‘Incredible Years Programme’. The initiative, run by the Public Health Agency (PHA), builds confidence and helps parents understand and manage their child’s behaviour better and also to help teach children how to understand their emotions, with the aim of benefitting their long-term health and wellbeing.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in Northern Ireland, but early detection can improve the outcome for someone with the condition. With increasing numbers of people developing lung cancer, today the Public Health Agency (PHA) is launching the next phase of its ‘Be Cancer Aware’ campaign, which will focus specifically on this type of cancer. This phase of the campaign aims to raise awareness of signs and symptoms of lung cancer and encourage people to speak to their GP if they experience any of them.

To highlight Mental Health Awareness Week (11-17 May), the Public Health Agency (PHA) would like to remind people to look after their mental health and give it the same level of attention as their physical health. The PHA is urging people to look at ways of improving their mental health and wellbeing. One way of doing this is by adopting the Five Ways to Wellbeing which were developed by the New Economics Foundation (NEF).

More than 80% of us travel to work by car. This week (11-17 May) is Walk to Work Week so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging everyone to leave the car at home to boost your health. Being more physically active and reaching the Chief Medical Officer’s recommended target of a minimum 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week can help you manage your weight, reduce your risk of developing a range of chronic conditions including some cancers, Type 2 diabetes, as well as reduce anxiety and stress.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) in partnership with the Western Health and Social Care Trust is encouraging people to take up opportunities for training in emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention that are currently available in the Western Trust area. Brendan Bonner, PHA Head of Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement in the Western area, said:

The Health and Social Care Research and Development (HSC R&D) Division of the Public Health Agency is pleased to announce the launch of their new website at www.research.hscni.net The work of the HSC R&D Division is based on the principle that the best health and social care must be underpinned by knowledge and well-conducted research which can then be applied to the delivery of care.

As exams get under way, parents and guardians are being encouraged by the Public Health Agency (PHA) to support their children’s emotional wellbeing. A certain level of stress is entirely normal and can be beneficial and motivating. However some students can feel particularly pressured to achieve good results and this can have a significant impact on how they feel. Madeline Heaney, Regional Lead for Mental and Emotional Wellbeing with the PHA, said: “The pressure to do well in exams can be very stressful for young people.