HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing

#28 Dementia: Understand Together

In this podcast, we hear about the HSE Dementia: Understand Together campaign which aims to raise awareness and understanding of dementia and inspire communities to become inclusive.
 
Host Noreen Turley speaks to guests Fiona Foley, Senior Project Manager HSE National Dementia Office, and Kathleen Farrell, who is living with Lewy body dementia and is a member of the Irish Dementia Working Group. 
 
In the podcast we hear about the various types of dementia, early signs and symptoms and where to go for help if you have dementia or are a family member supporting a person with the condition. Kathleen is very open about living with dementia and shares her personal experiences and she goes on to outline some of the supports available to her. Kathleen also highlights the importance of education among all community groups and organisations to create inclusive communities all over Ireland.
 
The "Understand Together" campaign recently launched a new dementia inclusive community symbol which organisations and groups can display to show their solidarity with people living with dementia. Kathleen wears her badge proudly and tells us how the campaign and new symbol is changing the dementia culture in Ireland, increasing visibility and awareness of dementia.  
 
For more information you can contact understandtogether@hse.ie, visit www.understandtogether.ie or call the national helpline facilitated by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland on 1800 341 341.
 
Dementia: Understand Together is led by the HSE, in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI), Age Friendly Ireland, the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre, Age & Opportunity and Healthy Ireland.
 
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#27 Financial Wellbeing

In this podcast, we hear from Gwen Harris from the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), where she works as Regional Manager in North Dublin, as we discuss financial wellbeing. Gwen provides practical tips for budgeting, reducing food waste, and finding the best deals in areas like utility bills.
 
Hosted by Fergal Fox, we learn that financial wellbeing is about having control and confidence in managing one's budget, rather than accumulating wealth. Gwen highlights the reluctance people may have when seeking financial assistance, and emphasises the importance of creating a judgment-free environment where people from all walks of life, regardless of their background or employment status, can seek support and advice. She also sheds light on the emotional toll and societal aspects of financial stress, emphasising that it's often external factors like job loss or illness, not personal overspending, that lead to financial strain.
 
Gwen encourages listeners to seek support from organisations like MABS and suggests visiting their website www.mabs.ie or calling their helpline on 0818 072 000, which open from 9am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. She also highlights that MABS provides financial health tools, tips and regular blog posts on various topics related to personal finance.
 
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#26 Breastfeeding Support

In this podcast, we hear from breastfeeding experts as they explain why breast feeding is important for mother and baby and outline the range of supports in every community throughout the country. This year’s theme for Breastfeeding week is ‘Making our communities and workplaces more breastfeeding friendly’. It aims to highlight local supports for parents and the recent expansion in law of breastfeeding breaks during work hours up to a child’s second birthday. Parents can get tips and advice on continuing to breastfeeding when returning to work and can also talk to a breastfeeding expert on www.mychild.ie .
 
Our podcast host Noreen Turley speaks to Helen Long, a breastfeeding mother with a complex story, who sought help and information as she began her breastfeeding journey, she said she “feels empowered and has realised that for her breastfeeding is her parenting superpower.” Helen would like to see breastfeeding normalised in Irish society and hopes by telling her story she will encourage more mothers to breastfeed their babies.
 
Alison Reynolds, Public Health Nurse and Lactation Consultant, acknowledges that breastfeeding can be difficult and explains to mothers how and where they can get practical advice and support to help them breastfeed. She tells us that your GP, GP practice nurse, midwife or public health nurse (PHN) will be happy to discuss feeding your baby and many people find it helpful to learn about breastfeeding while pregnant. Alison says that “Breastfeeding looks different to every mother and by working together with a Lactation Consultant, mothers can get the support that will work for them and enable them to breastfeed their baby for as long as they wish.”
 
Laura McHugh, HSE National Breastfeeding Coordinator, said that “We know from our data that more mothers are breastfeeding every year and that we are listening to our mothers’ needs, responding to them and are putting supports in place in every community in the country to help mothers breastfeed.” Laura also tells us that we now have over 180 breastfeeding groups, breastfeeding live chat and many more tips and support for parents available on the HSE’s www.mychild.ie website.
 
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#25 Reducing your risk of cancer

In Ireland, 1 in 2 people will develop cancer at some stage of their life. Cancer prevention and early diagnosis are key to reducing the burden of cancer in Ireland.
Listen to Consultant in public health Dr Triona McCarthy at the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) discuss steps you can take to reduce your risk of cancer and the healthy lifestyle choices you can make to help.  
Triona also explains that not all cancers can be prevented; each individual’s risk of getting cancer is influenced by a wide range of factors. But she adds that there are steps we can take to reduce the risk of many cancers. Making healthy lifestyle choices not only reduces the risk of cancer, but also helps improve general health. 
Dr McCarthy works with the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme, which established and coordinates the Irish Cancer Prevention Network (ICPN). ,ICPN member organisations work together to support and collaborate on cancer risk reduction initiatives. Together, they provide a trusted source of information for the public by converting the knowledge gained through research, surveillance and outcome evaluation into strategies and actions for the prevention of cancer in Ireland. 
There are now more than 200,000 people living with and beyond cancer in Ireland. The number of survivors is predicted to double over the next 25 years, mainly due to improvements in early detection, effective cancer treatment and new developments in treatment.
 
Further Information
www.hse.ie/cancerprevention
 
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#24 Healthy Campus

Listen to the latest episode which delves into the area of the Healthy Campus work underway in third-level institutions across the country. Under the Higher Education Healthy Campus Charter and Framework led by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), this sector continues to increase its delivery of health and wellbeing work in conjunction with the Department of Health, Healthy Ireland. Our guests are Martina Mullin from Trinity College Dublin and Dr. Teresa Hurley from Technological University Dublin, who share their insights and learning from their on the ground work with host Fergal Fox. As a setting, higher education has huge potential, to not only improve health and wellbeing but also improve academic performance, students' sense of belonging, improve staff-student relationships, reduce stress and link to any number of priority issues for young adults and staff. Many of these benefits are discussed and given real world examples in the podcast.
 
A Healthy Campus ‘adopts a holistic understanding of health, takes a whole campus approach and aspires to create a learning environment and organisational culture that enhances the health and wellbeing of its community and enables people to achieve their full potential’. It’s about moving away from a focus only on individuals to ensure we are creating campuses that are conducive and supportive to health and wellbeing, a whole campus approach. This includes how health can be supported through teaching and learning, leadership, governance and strategy, student services, the physical environment, and campus culture. It aims to foster an ethos of care, compassion, and inclusion on campuses. The Healthy Campus Process, contained in the Framework, outlines an inclusive, coordinated approach to improving health and wellbeing. To find out more about the work underway in this area see the HEA’s Healthy Campus webpage.
 
The HEA oversees the strategic development of the Irish higher education and research system, with responsibility for the effective governance and regulation of higher education institutions and the higher education system. As well as responsibility for the Healthy Campus Framework, the HEA also oversees the implementation of the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework.
 
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#23 Healthy Lunchboxes for Kids

The latest HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast talks about Healthy Lunchboxes for Kids and much more.
 
With school routines starting again and parents getting to grips with what to put into those lunchboxes and what to avoid. Marian McBride, Dietetic Lead, HSE Health & Wellbeing discusses the importance of a balanced diet to ensure children develop a healthy relationship with food.
 
With tips on how to introduce healthier foods into children’s daily diets. Marian gives ideas on what to include, recognising that parents are busy, she explains that it’s about frequency and taking those different opportunities to introduce healthier options.
 
For more information and ideas visit: https://www2.hse.ie/living-well/healthy-eating
 
Please get in touch to find out more about our podcast series or the work of HSE Health and Wellbeing Healthandwellbeing.communications@hse.ie 
 
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#22 Alcohol & Pregnancy

In this podcast two experts discuss Alcohol and Pregnancy. Dr Mary O’Mahony, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and Professor Maeve Eogan, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist talk to podcast host Noreen Turley about a range of issues involved including Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). FASD Awareness Day is the 9th of September 2023. 
 
They discuss the difficulties that some women face giving up alcohol while pregnant and the importance of providing consistent messaging to women. The clear message is that No amount of alcohol at any stage of pregnancy is safe for your baby and if you have had a drink stopping as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed is the best thing for your developing baby.
 
Maeve says that “We want to support women who find having an alcohol free pregnancy difficult without the‘blame and shame culture’ this can prevent women asking for help. Health care professionals need to have clear communication and have those challenging conservations with women so that we can provide support to women.” 
 
Mary explains that “The reality is that anytime alcohol is consumed during pregnancy, it passes from your blood stream through the placenta to your baby. Even a small amount of alcohol can harm a baby’s development and may have lifelong effects. But stopping drinking alcohol at any stage of pregnancy is of benefit to the baby.”
 
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). FASD experience lifelong challenges and need support with their physical health. They may struggle with learning, memory, attention, communication, emotional regulation, and social skills. FASD Awareness Day is the 9th of September 2023. 
 
For further information and tips for not drinking during pregnancy contact the Drug and Alcohol Helpline on 1800 459 459 or visit  https://www2.hse.ie/pregnancy-birth/keeping-well/food-drink/alcohol/ and https://www2.hse.ie/my-child/
 
 
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#21 Positive Mental Health

In this episode we talk to HSE Health Promotion and Improvement Officers, Olive Fanning and Anne Marie Murphy, about Positive Mental Health and the HSE’s Minding Your Wellbeing programme which is available through a series of 5 videos along with other mental health supports on www.yourmentalhealth.ie. Hosted by Fergal Fox, they discuss the programme and many of the terms and concepts used in the field of Positive Psychology such as Self-Care, Resilience, Positive Relationships, Mindfulness and how we need to Manage Our Thoughts. Both Anne Marie and Olive have significant experience of delivering this evidenced based programme face to face to HSE staff and they offer their insights, giving listeners lots to reflect on in terms of how they mind their own mental wellbeing.
 
The Minding Your Wellbeing Programme Support Booklet is also highlighted in the podcast as a useful practical tool for people who are working to improve their mental wellbeing and is  available via www.healthpromotion.ie.
 
Please get in touch to find out more about our podcast series or the work of HSE Health and Wellbeing Healthandwellbeing.communications@hse.ie 
 
 
Produced by GKMedia.ie
 

#20 Parents Matter

In this episode, we speak to Professor Bobby Smyth, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, on the role of parents in the area of substance prevention and education, as part of an ongoing campaign ‘Parents Matter’ to promote information about substances and how to engage children and young people on this matter. Families have the potential to act as a major protective force in the lives of children and adolescents. Mutually supportive family relationships generally influence the prevention of substance use among young people.
 
In the podcast we hear about the current drug and alcohol landscape, including the latest drug trends and how parents can help in supporting healthy decision making by their children. Professor Smyth also discusses the reasons why we seek to delay or avoid young people’s entry into the world of alcohol and drug use and the steps which parents can take to reduce the likelihood that their son or daughter develops a substance use problem. Hosted by Noreen Turley.
 
To find out more information and the support options for concerned parents in their local area, visit: https://www.drugs.ie/drugs_info/for_parents_carers/resources_for_parents/
 
As we have reached the final episode of series one of the HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast, we would like to take the opportunity to thank all involved and in particular, thank the listeners for their engagement and support throughout our first series. We would like to invite you to take a quick survey where we would appreciate if you could provide some feedback for us to consider ahead of commencing series two of the HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HWpodcast/
 
Please get in touch to find out more about our podcast series or the work of HSE Health and Wellbeing Healthandwellbeing.communications@hse.ie 
 
 
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#19 HSE Active Workplaces

In this episode we talk to Eimear Cotter, Project Manager, Healthy Eating Active Living Programme, HSE Health & Wellbeing and Dan Russell, Health Promotion & Improvement Officer, HSE, Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow Community Healthcare, about active workplaces and the importance of physical activity. Eimear discusses the physical activity guidelines, the risks associated with sedentary behaviour in the workplace and why movement breaks are so important to incorporate as part of our daily routine. Dan shares his experiences about the HSE Steps to Health challenge, which is an internal initiative aimed at encouraging and supporting staff to be more active. Hosted by Eamon Keogh.
 
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