This week marks Falls Prevention Awareness Week and the Public Health Agency (PHA), in partnership with local councils, is encouraging everyone to take measures to reduce their risk of falls at home. In 2020 there were 251 falls deaths out of a total of 349 accidental deaths in those aged 65+ representing 72% of accidental (unintentional injury) deaths in that age group * in Northern Ireland. “Falls can have huge consequences,” said Janine Gaston, Interim Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Manager with the PHA. “They can result in pain, injury and sometimes death. It is really important

Lifeline – regional crisis counselling helpline is available day and night, every day of the year. As we approach World Suicide Prevention Day on Saturday 10 September, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people that Northern Ireland’s crisis counselling helpline, is available for everyone, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. The trained counsellors at the Lifeline helpline support people experiencing thoughts of suicide, those with high levels of anxiety and those needing support with feelings of low mood and depression. John Hand, Lifeline Service Manager, said: “We want people to

A planned and targeted winter vaccination campaign to help protect those most at risk from respiratory illnesses has been launched by the Public Health Agency (PHA). The campaign, which is due to commence on 19 September, will see flu and COVID-19 vaccines offered to over 1 million people in Northern Ireland within eligible groups over coming months. Dr Jillian Johnston, Interim Assistant Director in Health Protection at the PHA, is urging everyone who falls into an eligible group to get ready for winter by taking up the offer of free vaccination when invited. “We are all aware of the dangers

Today [Tuesday 6 September] marks the launch of this year’s Health and Social Care (HSC) mental health and emotional wellbeing campaign. The campaign’s theme is ‘Creating Hope Through Action’, emphasising the importance of one of the Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing – to Connect. Over the next five weeks, linking World Suicide Prevention Day on Sunday 10 September through to World Mental Health Day on 10 October, the Public Health Agency (PHA) and the six Health and Social Care Trusts will promote resources, ideas and events aimed at communities, voluntary groups, families and individuals, about ways

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is continuing to urge people to be vigilant about monkeypox, and it is important that anyone who is offered the smallpox vaccine takes up that offer when available to help protect themselves and others. While anyone can catch monkeypox, the majority of monkeypox cases in the UK continue to be in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), with the infection being passed on mainly through close contact between people in connected sexual networks. Therefore, the smallpox vaccine is being prioritised for those men at higher risk of getting the virus

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging parents and guardians to talk to young people who are receiving exam results about the risks associated with drinking alcohol and taking drugs. Thousands of teenagers are set to receive their A-level or GCSE results over the next week and often following these occasions we can see excessive drinking or drug taking, so it is important that everyone is aware of the risks, even those who have chosen to drink alcohol or take drugs previously. Kevin Bailey, Regional Lead for Drugs and Alcohol at the PHA, said: “Parents can make the first move and talk

With high temperatures forecast for the coming days the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging people to protect themselves from the sun and to look out for older and more vulnerable people. Although there is no current weather warning for Northern Ireland, like there is in other parts of the UK and Ireland, it is still important to remember that as temperatures creep up, some people can be more susceptible to the heat, and all of us need to protect ourselves from the strong ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Dr Brid Farrell, Deputy Director of Public Health at the PHA, said: “With hot weather