The Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding everyone of the importance of getting the MMR vaccine after it was notified of a small number of measles cases in Northern Ireland and an increase of cases in other countries. The MMR vaccine can help protect against the mumps, measles and rubella. Children should receive one dose of the MMR vaccine just after their first birthday and a second dose at aged three years and four months. The vaccine is the safest and most effective way to prevent measles infection.

An initiative known as RAPID (Remove All Prescription and Illegal Drugs), which is helping to remove prescription and illegal drugs from our streets by providing drug disposal bins, is to be launched in Fermanagh and Omagh following a successful pilot. The addition of these three bins in the Fermanagh and Omagh district will bring the total number of bins in Northern Ireland to 21. Over 65,000 tablets (over 90% of which have been prescription drugs) have been removed from our streets through this project.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) are asking those who have been discharged from hospital during the past two years to share their experience through the recently launched 10,000 MORE Voices programme, to help shape how care is designed and delivered. 10,000 MORE Voices gives people an opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences of accessing health and social care services by asking them to ‘tell us their story’.

This small grant opportunity is now CLOSED Community and voluntary groups are being encouraged to apply for small grants which can be used to improve the mental and emotional wellbeing of local communities. Funding is being provided by the Public Health Agency (PHA) for a small grants scheme to address the themes of Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing, Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm.

As part of the Protect Life strategy the Public Health Agency (PHA) is planning to tender for a Lifeline Crisis Response Service (LCRS), consisting of a Regional Crisis Telephone Helpline and Community-Based Support Services within each of the five HSC Trust areas. The aim of the LCRS is to help reduce the number of deaths as a result of suicide and the number of incidents of self-harm in Northern Ireland, through enabling access to appropriate services for those at immediate risk of suicide, self-harm, or homicide/suicide.

With thousands of young people finishing school for the summer, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging parents to talk to their children about the risks associated with drinking alcohol and taking drugs. Many teenagers will be spending more time with friends over the coming months, perhaps even heading off on their first solo holiday, which may lead to excessive drinking or drug taking, so there’s an important role for parents to talk to their children about the risks.

Students who have just finished their A-levels and are planning to go to university are being encouraged by the Public Health Agency (PHA) to get a vaccine that can help protect against meningitis and septicaemia. The MenACWY vaccine helps protect against meningococcal disease, which new university students are at particularly high risk of contracting in the first weeks of term, when they will come into contact with many new people of a similar age.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Northern Ireland’s Drug and Alcohol Coordination Teams (NIDACTs) are urging people to keep an eye on their alcohol intake as they kick start Alcohol Awareness Week (19–25 June), emphasising the importance of knowing your units, the recommended weekly limit (to minimise risks) and the effects that alcohol can have on your health and your safety.