This Dying Matters Awareness Week (5-11 May) the Public Health Agency (PHA) and Department of Health (DoH) are encouraging everyone to start conversations about their future care, dying, death and bereavement to help break down stigma. This year’s theme, ‘The Culture of Dying Matters’, delves into the diverse ways that communities discuss, navigate, and commemorate death and dying, while emphasising the shared emotions that connect us all in grief and loss. Sally Convery, Nurse Consultant for Palliative Care at the PHA, said: “There are many differences in the ways that cultures and faiths

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding everyone ahead of World Hand Hygiene Day on the 5 May of the need to wash their hands thoroughly and regularly on days out with the family. Caroline McGeary, Infection Prevention and Control Lead Nurse at the PHA, said: “The spring and summer months are filled with days out with the family, but we want people to have pleasant memories, so it’s important for the whole family to practise good personal hygiene by washing their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and hot running water when out and about. “All animals naturally carry a range of

Community and voluntary groups are being encouraged to apply for grants to help improve mental health and emotional wellbeing in their areas. Applications for the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) ‘Making Life Better’ short-term funding grant programme opens on Monday 28 April. Fiona Teague, Regional Lead for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing at PHA, said: “Community and voluntary organisations are acutely aware of the issues that affect people on the ground and this short-term funding programme will give them the opportunity to address issues of mental health and emotional wellbeing specific

With the rally season under way, the Public Health Agency (PHA) has teamed up with Steering Positive Minds to raise awareness of mental health support and crisis intervention by having the Lifeline helpline number promoted on a driver’s car for this season. The Lifeline 24/7 crisis intervention helpline will have its logo and phone number 0808 808 8000 on the back of the car of reigning Northern Ireland junior driver champion Ben McFall throughout the 2025 Irish rally championships. The partnership had its official launch at the Circuit of Ireland Rally on Friday (18 April) and has already

World Immunisation Week (24-30 April) is an opportunity for the Public Health Agency (PHA) to highlight the important role that vaccinations play in protecting society today, and that without them we would face a return to the days when diseases posed a real threat to human health. Geraldine Mallon, Immunisation Programme Manager at the PHA, said: “Getting vaccinated is the single most important thing we can do to protect our health. Vaccination starts before birth with pregnant women being offered vaccines to protect them and their unborn babies and continues after the baby is born though

A new campaign has been launched in community pharmacies across Northern Ireland to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and help with early diagnosis. The ‘Be Cancer Aware’ campaign is running in community pharmacies this April and May as part of the Living Well service. It highlights the role of pharmacy teams in providing advice and support, and encourages people who may be experiencing possible cancer symptoms to talk to their GP. It also aims to promote healthy changes to help reduce the risk of developing cancer in the future. Dr Anna Cullen, Public Health Registrar at the