New church partnership to prevent suicide

Churches from across Northern Ireland came together today at Stormont to officially launch a new partnership initiative which aims to prevent suicide. ‘Flourish!’ is a regional inter-church suicide prevention initiative which involves Lighthouse Ireland, the Churches’ Community Work Alliance (Northern Ireland), and the four main churches in Northern Ireland. Flourish! has been developed in partnership with the Public Health Agency (PHA).

The purpose of the registry is to improve understanding about self-harm and related behaviours in Northern Ireland. The information gathered will be used to monitor trends and patterns over time and, perhaps most importantly, will help shape the development of services and support to meet need. The information will also help provide trusts and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety with a more accurate understanding of the impact of self-harm on Emergency Departments.

Healthy food in schools essential for learning and future wellbeing

A healthier approach to food in schools is being taken to improve learning opportunities and health and wellbeing by encouraging better eating habits among children. The ‘Food in Schools’ conference, held at Stranmillis University College, Belfast, today [26 February] brought together Education Minister John O’Dowd and Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride in support of the action needed to provide children with healthier food choices and nutritional information to support a healthier diet.

Important advice to pregnant women during lambing season

You know spring is on its way when you begin to see lambs appearing in the fields; however the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding pregnant women about the risk of close contact with sheep during lambing season. Pregnant women who come into close contact with sheep during lambing may be risking their own health and that of their unborn child from infections that can be transferred from ewes. It is also important to note that cows and goats which have recently given birth can also carry similar infections.

Healthy food demos cooking up a storm

People across Belfast are finding out how to cook healthy, tasty, low cost meals thanks to cookery demonstrations being organised by the Public Health Agency (PHA). The demonstrations are helping to promote the PHA’s ‘Choose to Live Better’ campaign, which helps people identify how they can take small practical steps to reduce their waist size. The cooking demonstrations will focus on creating good food that won’t break the bank.

Quarterly reports provide epidemiological data on C. difficile and S. aureus in Northern Ireland. The report highlights key points, rates, trends and statistical process control charts. The report also provides information on surveillance methods and data for each hospital and Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland.

Click here to see the latest reports

V for Victory – we can help you win in the battle against cigarettes!

As the countdown to No Smoking Day 2014 [Wednesday 12 March] gets underway, thousands of smokers across Northern Ireland were today urged to take their first step to Victory and set 12 March 2014 as their quit date. The Public Health Agency (PHA), Cancer Focus Northern Ireland and British Heart Foundation (BHF) Northern Ireland, who are part of the Northern Ireland No Smoking Day Coordinating Committee, have joined forces to call on local smokers to stop smoking and to avail of the support that is available to help them on their road to Victory.

Good Neighbourhoods for Ageing Well

Improving the lives of older people is the focus of a series of community conversations aimed at developing ‘good neighbourhoods for ageing well’. The conversation events have been initiated by the Southern Strategic Health Improvement Partnership (SSHIP) and funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA). The events will be coordinated by the local councils and will be held in Kilkeel, Dromore, Craigavon, Keady and Fivemiletown.