Our podcast series returns today with a special focus on Starting School and going Back to School for all primary school parents. In this episode of the HSE Talking Health & Wellbeing Podcast, host Fergal Fox is joined by Dr Abigail Collins to discuss starting primary school and supporting children through the back-to-school transition. The conversation explores common concerns for families, including managing anxiety, separation worries and preparing children emotionally for this significant change. Dr Collins also shares practical advice on getting ready for school, from organising uniforms, school bags and lunchboxes to establishing healthy routines. Throughout the discussion, Dr Collins encourages parents to draw on their support networks and to be kind to themselves as they navigate this important milestone: hsepodcasts.podbean.com/ Full video podcast available on Spotify and YouTube: youtu.be/rcaAyBZ_VIk?si=pHeK…

Join us at the start of Men’s Health Week, Monday 15th June, 12pm – 1pm, to hear from a range of speakers who will share their insights and experience on the key theme for the week, One Step at a Time – progress not perfection. Speakers include: Poet and Mental Health Advocate, @DaraghFleming Broadcaster and Entrepreneur, Bobby Kerr Founder of the innovative 'Be OK Garage’ promoting mental health, Dave Smith Social Prescriber and Screening Champion, Lewis Byrne HSE Project Manager, Bláthín Casey To support accessibility, an Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreter will be present for the full duration of the webinar. Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi…

Minister of State @JenMurnaneOConn TD officially opened the @ireland_social Prescribing Conference in Dundalk today and said “Social prescribing shows what is possible when communities, voluntary organisations and our health services work together. By connecting people with local supports, we can reduce loneliness, improve wellbeing and help people to stay well closer to home.” Anne O'Connor, CEO of the HSE, said: “Social prescribing is based on the principle of addressing ‘what matters to the person’ rather than ‘what’s the matter with them’. It is a person-centred approach that brings together health services, communities and the many voluntary and community organisations that help deliver this support, linking people with local activities, groups and services that can make a real difference to their health and wellbeing.” Representing people whose lives have been transformed by social prescribing, Marianna Quinn from South Armagh, who is representing social prescribing recipients said “Social prescribing has completely changed my life. Before, I felt very alone and didn’t know where to turn. Being linked in through social prescribing helped me find local groups, build my confidence and feel part of my community again. It has opened doors to new opportunities I never imagine” For more: gov.ie/en/department-of-heal…

Today the Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy @JenMurnaneOConn launched the Realist Evaluation of Social Prescribing Services in Ireland, she is photographed below at the launch this morning with colleagues from the @roinnslainte, HSE Health and Wellbeing and @GalwayHPRC . The study aimed to engage with stakeholders to strengthen the evidence for social prescribing by providing a context-sensitive evaluation, to capture the breadth and complexity of social prescribing in Ireland. To develop a number of recommendations, the research team consulted with and outlined the views of many stakeholders. Social Prescribing service users themselves were the main group consulted and some of their views are included below: “Well. Some other life events have happened, so I'm back. I have resumed my course at the university. I have a routine, you know, like I'm back to my normal life, so to speak, but I think social prescribing was crucial for me when I was in that time period a few months ago, where I was in that slump. I suppose, you know. It was really important that. It was the only good thing going on for me at the time.” (SUEst03) “I describe myself as a deflated balloon or a flat balloon, and I need to reflate. And that's what that does for me. It keeps my spirits up. It's maintenance, I think if I didn’t have it, I’d be going downhill, but this way I'm, you know, I’m maintaining, and it's dreadfully important that I do because I can't afford to slump, you know” (SUEst01) “It gives me more confidence, I'd lot of confidence before, but then as life happens, you know, you kind of lose a bit of confidence. And then when you know you can kind of socialise again with people you know and yeah, that's nice. And that's your groups out there you can just take it out of the house too, because I do get out of the house.” (SUNew01) Full report is available here: lnkd.in/ey9jA9Cz @profmaryhorgan @aislingsheehan @orlawal

We invite you to attend a HSE webinar about digital mental health supports on Tuesday 19th May 2026 from 12.30pm to 1pm. The webinar aims to help colleagues within the health and social care arena to understand the free HSE digital mental health supports and tools that are available, and explain who these support and tools are suitable for. This webinar is presented by HSE Health and Wellbeing and HSE Mental Health and is aligned with our national mental health policy HSE Sharing the Vision. Please register here and share this invitation with relevant colleagues: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi…

Closing date extended to June 1st! Apply now for up to 3k: Tobacco Free Campus Bursary 2026–2027. HSE services (acute, primary care, mental health, disability and older persons) are invited to apply for the Tobacco Free Campus Quality Improvement Bursary 2026–2027. Sites complete a short online self‑audit and Quality Improvement Plan, implement 1–2 improvement actions over 12 months, and repeat the self‑audit in 2027. Funding of up to 3k will be reinvested in tobacco control projects at successful sites. Apply: surveys.hse.ie/s/HU02EX/ Queries: [email protected]

Sexual health information for you and your service users: The HSE’s free home STI testing service is delivered by our Sexual Health Programme in partnership with SH:24. People aged 17+ living in the Republic of Ireland can order a free STI test online, making it easier to take care of your sexual health. If a test result is positive or reactive, SH:24 will contact you directly and support you in accessing appropriate care, including referral to public sexual health clinics where needed. Service features include: · Text message function with SH:24 team for support as needed · Option to create an SH:24 account for easier access to results and testing history · Online assessment for treatment following a positive chlamydia result, with prescriptions sent directly to a local pharmacy (where suitable) · Access to free condoms and lubricant Find out more or order your free test here: sh24.ie/