As 2022 draws to a close, it is important to stop and reflect on the huge volume of work completed this year. The last few years have increased the focus and importance of taking a preventative approach to healthcare by encouraging people to make the type of behavioural changes, which will give them a better quality of life in the longer term. I am very pleased to say that HSE Health & Wellbeing have worked tirelessly this year to capitalise on this focus as we continued to push out our messaging in the areas of smoking, alcohol, healthy eating and active living, sexual health, mental health and wellbeing.
Working in conjunction with our internal and external partners, the Health & Wellbeing team delivered a range of initiatives. These included webinars and events such as the Tobacco End Game hosted at the Aviva stadium, Pregnancy Alcohol webinar, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and the Overweight & Obesity Let’s Talk event, as well as QUIT, Ask About Alcohol and START campaigns. Our Making Every Contact Count programme focused on promoting training for healthcare professionals and the launch of two new training modules: Overweight and Obesity and Mental Health & Wellbeing.
In a very busy year it is difficult to pick out highlights but seeing our Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy programme’s research on women’s experience of unplanned pregnancy and abortion support services as well as the roll out of free home STI Screening nationally, marks another ground breaking year for sexual wellbeing. Our Tobacco programme also went from strength to strength with their increased roll out of smoking cessation supports in communities in conjunction with Community Health Organisations, Hospital Groups and Community Agencies. Their collaborative efforts were recognised as Ireland was recently named No1 in Europe on the Tobacco Control Scale published recently. The Healthy Eating Active Living programme continues to work hard to change people’s mindset about Obesity and break the stigma around this chronic disease.
A number of reports were published during 2022 by our policy programmes but I wanted name two in particular. The first HSE Health & Wellbeing annual report was produced, which gave a broad account of our different areas of work. In addition, the Mental Health promotional plan was also published. This plan is another step towards raising the profile and promoting positive mental health and wellbeing across the health service.
Our team supported the development and roll out of Slaintecare Healthy Communities and the various local launches which took place in these communities throughout the year. The majority of launches have now been completed and having attended some, it was wonderful to witness first-hand the commitment and standard of programmes being showcased which are available in these communities. We can see that targeting initiatives has a profound impact on improving people’s health and wellbeing as we continue to address health inequalities in partnership with Local Authority partners.
The recently launched Healthy Ireland Survey results highlighted the importance of continuing to promote and inform everyone about maintaining healthier lifestyle choices as a way of reducing the risks of developing long term serious illnesses, be that in the area of e-cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, physical activity, healthy eating or mental health and wellbeing.
Finally, I would like to thank our many internal and external partners who have worked with us throughout the year.
I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Christmas and a healthy new year.