Ireland’s Strategy to Reduce Suicide and Self-harm 2026–2035Ireland’s Strategy to Reduce Suicide and Self-harm, Connecting for Life 2026–2035, was published by the Government of Ireland on 27 May. The vision of this new strategy is an Ireland where far fewer lives are lost to suicide, and where communities and individuals have access to the supports and services needed to prevent suicide and respond to self-harm. The HSE, National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) and six Health Regions will be critical partners in implementing this ambitious all-of-government strategy, nationally, regionally and in all our communities. You can read the new strategy and accompanying information at gov.ie/Suicide&SelfHarmReduction COVID-19 vaccine – extended to 27 June The COVID-19 vaccine programme has been extended to 27 June. The COVID-19 vaccine provides the best available protection against serious illness from COVID-19. Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine? This COVID-19 vaccination programme is recommended for people: - 80 years or over
- 6 months old or over with an immunocompromising condition (weak immune system)
- 18 years or over living in a long-term residential care facility for older adults.
Vaccines are available from a participating GP or pharmacy. To find out if a vaccine is recommended for you, visit the HSE website or call our HSELive team on 1800 700 700. A campaign pack is available at the end of this message. Thank you for helping to share this information. New HSE campaign reminds us that no alcohol at any stage during pregnancy is safestA new HSE campaign is letting the public know that avoiding alcohol completely is safest when planning a pregnancy and during pregnancy. Watch the campaign video here. We want to assure women that when it comes to alcohol, no amount, at any stage during pregnancy or planning a pregnancy, is safe. The campaign directs people to expert advice. It also encourages partners, family and friends to support women in their efforts to have an alcohol-free pregnancy. You can find more information here. An all-Island response to drug harm reductionThe HSE and Public Health Agency Northern Ireland have issued a joint warning for people who use drugs at festivals and in nightlife settings across the island of Ireland this summer. The public health bodies are collaborating to raise awareness of current drug trends to help reduce drug-related harms and increased risks associated with people travelling to events. With thousands of people from across the island of Ireland expected to travel across the border in both directions to attend festivals this summer, the agencies highlight the increased risk at this time due to high strength MDMA, as well as new drugs that are in circulation such as pink powders. The HSE actively monitors emerging drug trends and high strength drugs are an increasing concern across the island of Ireland. This is also a concern for people travelling to Northern Ireland, the UK and throughout Europe. The HSE message is while it is safer not to use, we encourage those who choose to use to take time to understand the risks, know what supports are available and know where to go for help wherever you are. For more information, advice and support visit the HSE website Drug and Alcohol Information and Support in Ireland and see their Facebook page. You can also visit Public Health Agency Northern Ireland. How to approach the summer holidays as a parent of a teen The summer holiday is often a time when adolescents have more freedom, less supervision, later nights and increased peer influence. The HSE is highlighting evidence‑based advice to help parents reduce risks around alcohol and drug use. - What works for parents: Warm relationships, open communication and consistent boundaries are the strongest protective factors.
- Rules: Evidence shows a small number of clear and consistently enforced rules work best.
- Increased diversification of the drug market: New drugs have arrived in recent years. Many of these drugs are more potent than the past. When buying and using drugs, this creates more uncertainly about what is being consumed and increases risks. We can’t guarantee the contents, potency or health risks associated with products purchased in shops or online.
- Supervised drinking myth: National and international evidence shows adolescents allowed to drink at home tend to drink more heavily elsewhere.
Listen back to Prof. Bobby Smyth, HSE Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist discuss advice for parents with Claire Byrne on Newstalk here. The HSE has booklets, factsheets and online webinars to support parents on substance use prevention: Information and sign-posting towards services can be accessed via the HSE Drug & Alcohol helpline at freephone 1800 459 459 Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm. Launch of national information campaign to encourage more adults to plan ahead The Mental Health Commission (MHC), the HSE and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) have launched a national public information campaign encouraging advance planning among adults in Ireland.
The campaign called “You Know Me” will run throughout the summer and into autumn, aiming to prompt a national mindset shift around advance planning, including the use of Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) and Advance Healthcare Directives (AHDs), both of which are delivered through the Decision Support Service (DSS).
This collaborative initiative is supported by a wide range of stakeholders across health, social care and the advocacy sectors, including the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the Irish Hospice Foundation, Nursing Homes Ireland, Family Carers Ireland, Safeguarding Ireland and Age Friendly Ireland.
The campaign also marks three years since the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the establishment of the DSS, recognising the significant progress made to date and the shared commitment to increasing uptake of advance planning tools across Irish society.
People are encouraged to learn more and begin their advance planning journey by visiting www.advanceplanning.ie. WebinarsMen’s Health Week Webinar 2026 Join us at the start of Men’s Health Week, Monday 15 June from 12pm to 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. Guest speakers include: - Daragh Fleming, Poet and Mental Health Advocate
- Bobby Kerr, Broadcaster and Entrepreneur
- Dave Smith, Founder of the innovative 'Be OK Garage’ promoting mental health
- Lewis Byrne, Social Prescriber and Screening Champion
- Bláthín Casey, HSE Project Manager
To support accessibility, an Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreter will be present for the full duration of the webinar. Please register here to attend. Working together to Make Every Move Count – Physical Activity Pathway for Health Webinar The ‘Working together to Make Every Move Count’ webinar series aims to support healthcare professionals to raise the topic of physical activity and to support people to become more active. This webinar is the second in the series and takes place on Thursday 18 June 2026 from 11.30am to 12.45pm, focusing on raising the topic of physical activity and where people can be signposted to. This webinar also features the launch of an evaluation report for the Sport Ireland initiative ‘The Physical Activity for Health Officer Pilot’. Please register here to attend. Awards HSE National Dementia Services: New “Dementia Inclusive Community” AwardTidyTowns committees can apply for the “Dementia Inclusive Community” Special Award as part of the SuperValu TidyTowns competition, sponsored by the HSE National Dementia Services. The award recognises communities that are creating inclusive, supportive and accessible environments for people living with dementia, their families and carers. Winning TidyTowns committees in both the large town/urban centre and village/small town categories will receive €2,000, with runner-up prizes of €500 also awarded. Examples may include dementia awareness initiatives, inclusive community activities, accessible public spaces and outdoor areas designed to stimulate the senses or encourage reminiscence. Information and application details are available here (please see Award No. 16). Closing date is 8 June 2026. HSE Health AppDownload the HSE Health App for free from the App Store or Google Play The HSE has recently added new features to its health app launched earlier this year, allowing patients to keep track of where they are at on their patient journey as well as giving them access to more personal health information. The app will now show patients the day case and inpatient waiting lists they are on, meaning they will no longer need to rely on physical letters or verbal updates to confirm they are on a waiting list. Patients will receive a notification when an appointment is made. It will also show general referrals made for them by their GP. General referrals account for approximately 85% of referrals and the remainder, known as specialist referrals, will be available on the app next year. Anyone aged 16 and over can download the app for free from Google Play or the App Store, The HSE app is one of the first initiatives delivered as part of Digital for Care, Ireland’s health and social care digital framework. Another update is the availability of health data for patients on the Structured Chronic Disease Management Programme including diagnosis of condition, and record of vitals and measurements. Further enhancements include a trial of a post Prostate Cancer Care Support treatment program (at University Hospital Galway, UHG). For more information see www.hse.ie/HSEapp Download the free HSE app via the App Store or Google Play. | 
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