Ageing Well campaign urges people to get active to help live longer and stronger

A new campaign focussing on the importance and benefits of physical activity to help live longer and stronger, has been launched in community pharmacies across Northern Ireland. The ‘Live longer and stronger’ campaign aims to raise awareness of age-related deconditioning and the importance of physical activity and will run in community pharmacies throughout August and September as part of the Living Well service. Living Well is offered in over 500 pharmacies across Northern Ireland and provides information and advice on public health issues. It is delivered in partnership with the Public

Market engagement - community based early intervention services for adults and family members / carers / people affected by substance use

The Procurement and Logistics Service (PaLS) on behalf of the Public Health Agency (PHA) wish to carry out a market engagement with providers interested in delivering a Community Based Early Intervention Services for Adults and Family Members / Carers / People affected by Substance Use. This pre-tender market engagement will take the form of a Briefing Paper and Questionnaire for providers to respond to. The purpose of this engagement is to receive feedback from providers on the proposed new procurement arrangements and key elements of the service. It is also to make potential providers aware

Pride attendees encouraged to look after their mental health

This Belfast Pride Festival, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting the mental health and emotional wellbeing support available for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. With the theme of this year’s Belfast Pride Festival being ‘Love Your Mind’ there has never been a more important time to reach out if you need mental health support and the PHA is reminding everyone that the Lifeline service supports people of every age, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexuality and gender identity. Lifeline is Northern Ireland’s crisis response helpline for people experiencing distress or despair and

Avail of HPV and mpox vaccination at this year’s Belfast Pride to help protect yourself!

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people who are eligible to avail of the HPV and mpox vaccinations at the Belfast Pride Festival on Saturday 27 July. A team of healthcare professionals from the PHA and vaccinators from the South Eastern Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust will be located at Pride village in Custom House Square during the festival. What is mpox? It is caused by the mpox virus, a member of the same family of viruses as smallpox, although it is much less severe. Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, swellings, back pain, aching muscles. Once the fever breaks a Dr

The Health Minister visits Western Trust and meets with Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) programme participants

The Health Minister Mike Nesbitt visited Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) and met with Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) programme participants. Watch a video from the visit https://vimeo.com/981981659/6f2b89217a?share=copy About the programme: The programme provides support from early pregnancy until the child is two years old, parents are offered intensive and structured home visiting, delivered by specially trained ‘family nurses’. In doing so the programme hopes to bring about huge benefits such as readiness for school, improved educational achievement and a reduction in anti

How to protect your baby from RSV

From September 2024, pregnant women can get vaccinated to help protect their babies from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a virus that affects the lungs and can be very serious for young babies.

Women will be offered the vaccine at their antenatal appointment around 28 weeks.

A large print accessible Word version of this leaflet is available below.

From September 2024, pregnant women can get vaccinated to help protect their babies from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a virus that affects the lungs and can be very serious for young babies.

Public reminded of holiday food safety

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people about food safety ahead of long weekend barbecues and as people head off on holidays, as undercooked and mishandled food can cause a number of illnesses. Dr Claire Neill, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said: “Bacteria on or in food are usually the underlying cause of food poisoning, which is an illness that occurs after eating or handling contaminated food or liquid. That is why there is a need for thorough cooking and good hand hygiene. “Although it is probably far from people’s minds when they are enjoying food outdoors or on

Don’t let alcohol ruin your Twelfth of July

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging anyone choosing to use alcohol during the Twelfth of July celebrations to keep an eye on their drinking by making a sensible plan and sticking to it. Whether it is drinking at home, at a party, at an eleventh night bonfire, or at a parade, everyone is being reminded that alcohol carries serious risks both to safety and to health. Kevin Bailey, the PHA’s Regional Lead for Drugs and Alcohol said: “We understand that the long weekend is a time to relax and let off some steam but we’d encourage people to do so safely by keeping an eye on what and how much

Northern Ireland Registry of Self-harm Regional Report 2020/21 and 2021/22

The Self-Harm Registry collects data from hospital Emergency Departments across Northern Ireland in relation to attendances due to self-harm and/or thoughts of self-harm/suicide. 

The Self-Harm Registry collects data from hospital Emergency Departments across Northern Ireland in relation to attendances due to self-harm and/or thoughts of self-harm/suicide. 

The Early Intervention Support Service for families with children 0-18 years

This leaflet and flyer support the Early Intervention Support Service (EISS), which offers short term support to families with children 0-18 years who have additional needs or are facing challenges that are difficult to overcome.

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