The booking form for this year's Public Health Annual Research and Practice Conference is now available here - Please note closing date is Friday 6 May 2016.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is using Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this month to encourage those eligible to use the free home bowel screening kits, and to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of the disease. Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Northern Ireland and over 400 people die from the disease each year. However, the good news is that early detection can make a real difference as to whether someone with bowel cancer survives.

Health Minister Simon Hamilton today launched Northern Ireland’s new mental health anti-stigma and anti-discrimination campaign. The “Change Your Mind”, campaign supported by Comic Relief, the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Niamh (The Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health) is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging all 16 to 18 year olds to get a free vaccination that can help protect against meningococcal disease. Beginning in April, GPs will invite people born between 2 July 1997 and 1 July 1999 to have the MenACWY vaccine. It will protect against four different causes of meningitis and septicaemia – meningococcal A,C,W and Y diseases.