The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging students to be aware of the importance of looking after their mental health, as the new academic year gets underway. Fiona Teague Health Improvement Manager with the PHA, said: “This month marks an exciting time for many young people as they head off to college or university. It can also be a huge period of change for those starting a new course and perhaps living away from home for the first time. “Most of us go to university or college hoping that it will lead to a good job in the future. In the shorter term, students are usually focused on

More than 150,000 tablets have been disposed of through the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) RAPID initiative which is helping to remove prescription and illegal drugs from our streets. The RAPID (Remove All Prescription and Illegal Drugs) scheme provides drug disposal bins to facilitate the disposal of unwanted drugs easily and discreetly. Kelly Gilliland, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager at the PHA, said: “The RAPID initiative provides a safe way for anyone to dispose of drugs whether they are prescribed or illegal, and as part of ‘Bring Back Your Unused Medications Week’ (17-23

During adverse weather many people can experience a range of situations associated with the extreme weather such as cold and freezing temperatures, no electricity or mains water and flooding. The Public Health Agency (PHA) has compiled public health information to assist the public in these situations. Support networks for those affected by the adverse weather Keeping warm during adverse weather Carbon monoxide poisoning Advice if flooding occurs Using emergency water supplies Water advice following restoration Looking after vulnerable and elderly neighbours Severe weather warnings The Met

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is calling on parents of pre-school and primary school children to get their kids vaccinated against flu. This will help protect not only them but also those around them, particularly older grandparents or relations with an underlying health condition. Children in particular can increase the spread of the flu virus in the community, but vaccination helps curb this. Last year, seasonal flu activity was the highest seen since the 2009 pandemic, with 119 cases of flu in intensive care/ high dependency units (ICU/HDU) – more than twice as many as the previous year –

The health service, policy makers and the public will benefit from a €2 million, all-island, investment to improve ways of gathering and combining evidence (known as evidence synthesis) and using it effectively to inform health and health care decisions. Evidence synthesis is a structured process where relevant information on a topic is gathered, reviewed, assessed and brought together to support evidence-informed policy and/or practice decisions. This new initiative, Evidence Synthesis Ireland, will be funded for three years by the Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency

Research carried out on behalf of the All Ireland Institute for Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) has shown that seven in ten people believe that if palliative care could help them they would like a health care professional to discuss it with them. Today marks the start of Palliative Care Week (9 to 15 September 2018) and AIIHPC surveyed people across Northern Ireland about their understanding of palliative care.* Karen Charnley, AIIHPC Director, said: “Our survey shows that many people would like to begin a conversation about a topic often considered too difficult and too frightening to

As World Suicide Prevention Day approaches the Public Health Agency (PHA) is raising awareness of the training opportunities available in mental and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention. Almost 15,000 participants [1] received PHA-funded training in mental and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention last year. The PHA commissions a range of training programmes which are delivered across Northern Ireland, which range from raising awareness of mental health and wellbeing to providing advice on crisis intervention. “Improving mental health and reducing the prevalence of suicide are very

As the first week of the new school year gets under way, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is raising awareness with parents about the importance of good hygiene – both in school and at home. “Schools can be a common breeding ground for germs and bugs so it is important to take steps to reduce the risk of picking up or spreading germs to others,” said Dr Philip Veal, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA. Parents and schools can help reduce the spread of germs by encouraging kids to practise good personal hygiene by: Washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after using the toilet

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging parents to take up the offer of the HPV vaccine for their daughters aged 12-13. As the new school year gets under way, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, which reduces the risk of cervical cancer, will again be routinely offered to girls in years 9 and 10 in schools across Northern Ireland. Dr Lucy Jessop, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said: “We urge parents of girls who are eligible to receive the HPV vaccine to make sure that they get it to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer when they are older. “Our latest figures