A new TV, radio and online advertising campaign to increase understanding and support for people living with dementia was recently launched by the Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, as part of the Dementia: Understand Together initiative.  The campaign seeks to raise awareness, increase understanding, and address the loneliness and isolation experienced by people living with dementia and their families.  It aims to show that people with dementia can be supported to live well, and that each of us can play a part by maintaining friendships and including people in community life.  The launch of the campaign coincides with the official unveiling of a new website for people who want to find out more about dementia, which can be accessed at: www.understandtogether.ie

The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Sexual Health Training Team's 23rd Annual Regional Conference will take place on Wednesday 22nd November 2017, from 9.00am - 5.00pm, in the Titanic Centre, Belfast.  This year's event will focus upon inequalities in health for women, and will bring together a wide range of experts to present up-to-date research and projects from throughout the UK and Ireland.  To book a place or to find out more, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tel: 02895 047028.

To mark 'Movember' and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) is offering top tips to help organisations to effectively communicate health information to men. Around four in every ten men have low health literacy and this makes it hard for them to find, understand and use health information. Following research conducted by ICS and University College Cork - supported by the National Adult Literacy Agency - a number of key recommendations were made that should be considered when developing health information for men ...

John Higgins, from County Mayo, speaks poignantly about losing his son, David, to suicide, and how alcohol was a contributing factor to his death.  John calls upon people in Ireland to support the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, and reminds everyone that 'it's change that's needed, not sympathy'.  Hear John's personal experience ...

 

The Central Statistics Office recently published 'Women and Men in Ireland 2016' which presents over 70 indicators that identify important gender differences in the activities of men and women in the Republic of Ireland, as well as how these relate to the international situation.  Headline figures include: Irish women are more likely to have a third-level qualification than men; the vast majority of those who look after home/family are women (although the number of men looking after home/family nearly doubled in the 10 years up to 2016); more than three quarters of the TDs in Dáil Éireann are men; four out of every five people committed to prison in 2014 were men; men work longer hours than women in paid employment and have a higher rate of employment ...  To see a full overview of the findings, visit: www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-wamii/womenandmeninireland2016

‘Coping with the Pressures of Farming’ was launched at the National Ploughing Championships 2017 by Mental Health Ireland and Teagasc.  Staying well mentally is just as important as staying well physically.  Dealing with stress and strain, and the ups and downs of life, are part and parcel of daily living.  However, sometimes situations can lead to feelings of being unable to cope.  On such occasions, being able to reach out to someone to talk to and get advice from can make all the difference to sorting out the problem.  This publication has been researched and collated to address the many and varied issues that contribute to stress when not properly handled.  Part 1 addresses the essential requirement to manage farming effectively and efficiently.  Part 2 looks at mental health and wellbeing, with an emphasis on the more common mental health issues that can impact on day-to-day living.  To access a copy of this booklet, visit: www.mentalhealthireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Coping-with-the-pressures-of-farming-1.pdf

Contrary to public perception and many media accounts, women and men report similar levels of work / family conflicts - both in the form of work interfering with family and family interfering with work - according to research recently published by the American Psychological Association.  Researchers spent several years examining the findings from more than 350 studies, conducted over three decades, that included more than 250,000 participants from across the world.  The results were published online in the Journal of Applied Psychology.  To read more, visit: www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/07/work-family-conflicts.aspx

You are invited to a workshop hosted by the All-Island Obesity Action Forum supported by safefood.  This event, titled 'Schools Can, Schools Do - Healthy Eating and Physical Activity', will take place on Tuesday 14th November 2017, in the Gibson Hotel, Dublin, from 9.30am - 1.30pm.  The event will focus on the school as a setting for promoting a healthy weight in children, and will welcome a range of national and international expert speakers on childhood obesity.  For more details, see: www.safefood.eu/Professional/Events/All-island-Obesity-Action-Forum-Schools-can,-scho.aspx