A practical guide to suicide prevention

Everyone at some point will be affected by suicide. It might be the suicide of a neighbour, friend, colleague or family member; or the suicide of a well-known or public figure. Some of us might have suicidal thoughts. There are many causes of suicide and this means that one simple solution or single response will not be enough if we are to reduce the numbers of people acting on thoughts of suicide.

Automated external defibrillators

A defibrillator can play a potentially lifesaving role. Used correctly, it can improve a person’s survival chances following SCA. Therefore, defibrillators need to be accessible and in good working order at all times in the event that they are needed for an emergency situation.

Buying medical devices for personal use

More and more people now buy or lease medical devices for use at home. This leaflet highlights some key points to consider for using medical devices effectively and safely at home or on holiday.

Buying medical devices online

These days more and more people buy healthcare products over the internet. Many of these products may be classed as medical devices. This leaflet gives you information about medical devices and highlights some key issues about buying them online.

Caring for Your Baby 6mths - 2 yrs

This booklet contains valuable information to help you care for yourself and your child over the next year and a half. Caring for your young child is an exciting and challenging time for everyone involved. This information pack will help you deal with the everyday concerns of being a parent.

It will also point you to people and services that offer further information and support.

Caring for Your Baby Birth to 6 Months Old

If you have just had a baby, this is the booklet for you! It contains valuable information to help you care for yourself and your baby over the next six months. The birth of a baby is an exciting and challenging time for all. This booklet will help you deal with the everyday concerns of being a parent. It will also point you to further information and support.

Caring for Your Child 2yrs- 5yrs

This booklet contains valuable information to help you care for yourself and your child over the next three years. Caring for your child is exciting, challenging and a big responsibility. Parenting styles may vary but as a parent your goal is the same as other parents’ goal. You want to do the best you can for your child.

Childhood Immunisation

Immunisation is a safe and effective way to protect your child against serious diseases. This guide tells you:

•  which vaccines your child will receive and when they will get them;
•  why it’s important that your child gets all their vaccinations;
•  how the vaccines protect your child; and
•  what to expect after your child gets their vaccines.

The guide also answers some of the questions you may have about immunisation.

Coping with depression

Depression has a number of possible causes. For some people, it comes about as a result of a traumatic life event such as bereavement, relationship breakdown or financial difficulties. In other situations, the person may have an inherent tendency towards depression. Genetic factors can be key in the case of bipolar disorder, another type of mood disorder which involves periods of depression as well as periods of elation, where the mood is significantly higher than normal and the person may have
excessive energy, little need for sleep and may have grandiose ideas and engage in risk-taking behaviour.

Depression & Young people

Depression has a number of possible causes. For some people, it comes about as a result of a traumatic life event such as bereavement, relationship breakdown or financial difficulties. In other situations, the person may have an inherent tendency towards depression. Genetic factors can be key in the case of bipolar disorder, another type of mood disorder which involves periods of depression as well as periods of elation, where the mood is significantly higher than normal and the person may have
excessive energy, little need for sleep and may have grandiose ideas and engage in risk-taking behaviour.

Depression later in life

Worldwide, life expectancy is increasing. Currently about 10% of the world’s population is made up of older adults (aged 65 and above). This figure is set to rise steadily, to as much as 30% in some societies. To put this in context we need to look at some figures: in 1950 the population of the world’s elderly was 200 million and this is estimated to rise to 1.2 billion by 2025, a six fold increase in only 75 years. The most significant increase in older people living longer is found, not surprisingly, in developed countries like Ireland whose birth rate along with other European countries has been falling. For mental health, these changing shifts in our population structure, will mean an increase in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, but also in depressive disorders. Depression affects about one in ten people aged over 65, making it the most common of the mental health disorders of later life.

Developing a Community Response to Suicide

A resource to guide those developing and implementing an Inter-Agency Community Response Plan for incidents of suspected suicide, particularly where there is a risk of clusters and/or contagion.

Drug Payment Scheme Application Form

All those who are ordinarily resident in Ireland are eligible to apply for the Drugs Payment Scheme providing they donothold a current medical card. You can use the Drugs Payment Scheme with a Long Term Illness Book

Generic Medicines

This leaflet answers some of the most common questions about generic medicines. In particular, it includes information about how generics compare to original medicines. You can also discuss the use of generic medicines with your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep Safe this Winter - Preventing Falls and Trips

As you get older, a fall can result in broken bones, but also in loss of confidence, loss of mobility and fear of leaving your home. Many falls can be prevented, and by making small changes you can lower your chances of falling.

Keep Well this Winter

The next few months will be hard, for all of us, as we live with the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on our lives. But there are ways we can make it a little better for ourselves.

This season, make a plan to help and care for yourself. Keeping active, getting outside and staying connected with other people can make a positive difference.

Keeping hope alive, guide for family & friends

If somebody close to you has become depressed, you will know by now that this is not a trivial condition. As illnesses go, it is under rated by those who have not experienced it, under reported by those who are in its grip, and because of these factors and others it is significantly under treated. Yet, one in three people have a full-blown depressive episode at some stage in their lives. In reality few, if any, people go through the different stages of life without some experience of depression.

Managing minor ailments - Feel Better Booklet

These are just a few examples of minor ailments - everyday aches and ills that we get from time to time that aren’t particularly serious and don’t need to have a doctor’s attention. This booklet gives you information on: where to get advice on how to treat a minor ailment, what medicines you may be able to buy without a prescription, and when you should see your doctor.

Medicines & side effects

Medicines can help us live longer and healthier lives. They can help cure or treat an illness or disease and can also prevent some conditions from developing in the first place.

Most of us will not experience any problems when using medicines. However, all medicines have some risks and a small number of people may develop side effects (also known as adverse reactions). This leaflet tells you what to do if you think you have had a side effect to a medicine.

Over 70's Medical Card Form

People 70 years of age or older and their spouse or partner should use this form when applying for a Medical Card or GP Visit Card.

Post Natal Depression

This information is for anyone who wants to know more about postnatal depression (PND for short).

We hope it will be helpful to:

•  women who have, or think they might have postnatal depression
•  pregnant women who are worried about getting postnatal depression
•  partners, family and friends.

Safety tips for blood glucose meters

Blood glucose meters are commonly used by people with diabetes for monitoring the glucose levels in their blood. They are normally prescribed bya healthcare professional such as a GP or a diabetic specialist.

Safety tips for contact lens wearers

Millions of people worldwide enjoy the benefits of contact lenses. Contact lenses are medical devices that help correct a number of vision disorders, including far-sightedness (hypermetropia), near-sightedness (myopia) and astigmatism, and improveeye focusing for reading.

Supporting people with depression

Depression has a number of possible causes. For some people, it comes about as a result of a traumatic life event such as bereavement, relationship breakdown or financial difficulties. In other situations, the person may have an inherent tendency towards depression. Genetic factors can be key in the case of bipolar disorder, another type of mood disorder which involves periods of depression as well as periods of elation, where the mood is significantly higher than normal and the person may have
excessive energy, little need for sleep and may have grandiose ideas and engage in risk-taking behaviour.

Taking medication safely

Nearly all of us will need to take medicines at some point in our lives. These may be:

1. medicines that are only available with a prescription from a doctor, dentist or certain nurses (known as prescription-only medicines); or
2. medicines that you can buy over-the-counter without a prescription (sometimes called OTC medicines).

This leaflet tells you how to use medicines safely and effectively.