Health Promotion at University of Galway

Dr Martin Power discussing the peculiar evolution of Ireland’s health and social care services with students of the DBHW in Stuttgart. A game of Simply4emotions (simply4emotions.eu), and the Johanneskirche resplendent in the winter sunshine.

Huge congratulations to our MA Health Promotion graduates! Your commitment and achievements inspire us. Wishing you all the best as you take your next steps. Well done! 🎉

Dr. Martin Power meets Pepper the robot, tries on the aging suit (which is really heavy), and dons a VR headset to explore supports for individuals with mental health concerns, all at the DHBW in Stuttgart, Germany.

YouTube video by University of Galway MicroCreds Semester 2 Lunchtime Webinar

🎉 Health Promotion Micro-credentials starting Jan 2026!

- Mental Health Promotion
- Promoting Health in the Workplace
- Promoting Healthy Behaviors

Deadline is December 15th!

See link to information webinar here: youtu.be/U6MJTBUsK6M

Don’t miss your chance to upskill and make an impact! 🎓

Delegates of the FESET (European Association of Social Educators) conference enjoying a post conference tour of the European Parliament.

Delegates enjoying the FESET conference (European Association of Social Educators) at the European Parliament, which looks stunning in the autumn sunshine #FESET

Members of the FESET board (left to right, Nicolas, Bart, Martin, Roger) at the European Parliament building preparing for the FESET conference. If attending, please ensure to bring your identification documents, as security is understandable tight. #FESET

🎉 Congratulations @allisoningalway.bsky.social 🎓
Dr. Allison Dunne has officially graduated with her PhD from Sheffield Hallam University! We’re absolutely thrilled for you -what a fantastic achievement. Enjoy every moment of the celebrations! 🥂✨

Collaborating centres WHO collaborating centres are institutions such as research institutes, parts of universities or academies, which are designated by the Director-General to carry out activities in support of the Organ...

Exciting news! 🎉 The Health Promotion Research Centre (led by Profs Margaret Barry & Saoirse Nic Gabhainn) has been re-designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre, continuing our work advancing global health promotion policy & practice.
🔗 www.who.int/about/collab...

JOB ALERT!! A new part-time (0.4 FTE), 2-year post-doc position at the Health Promotion Research Centre, University of Galway. See further details below:
www.universityofgalway.ie/about-us/jobs/

SAVE THE DATE!
Join us for our Postgraduate Open Evening on Tuesday, November 11th, from 2–6pm in the Bailey Allen Hall. See 👇

Come chat to us about our MA in Health Promotion and our micro-credentials at the Discipline of Health Promotion.

Course link: www.universityofgalway.ie/courses/taug...

A warm welcome to all our new Health Promotion students!! We’re thrilled to have you join us and here’s to a year full of learning, collaboration and exciting opportunities ahead 🎓📝🪐

Please join Social Care Ireland’s Disability Special Interest Group
for their annual conference on 6th of November 2025!! See more information below:

<em>Journal of School Health</em> | ASHS Journal | Wiley Online Library Background Internationally, nutrition standards for school food have been implemented. Food service professionals are key to their implementation. This mixed-methods systematic review provides an ov.....

Congratulations to our PhD student Breda O'Mahony on her publication on Food Service Professionals' Perspectives on the Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of Nutrition Standards for School Food:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

A recent study by @galwayhprc.bsky.social reveals a concerning drop in contraception use among Irish youth, especially in condom use. 📉 Dr András Költő discusses the possible reasons behind this trend in this Newstalk interview. link.goloudplayer.com/s/pGnB4fD1QZI0

The latest issue of the Journal of Social Care is now available at - arrow.tudublin.ie/jsoc/
Congratulations to Deborah Murphy, who recently completed the BA (Hons) Social Care programme, on the publication of her article on therapeutic lying - well done Deborah 🎉

Health information is everywhere, but not always reliable.
1 in 3 cancer-related claims can be misleading. If you’ve had cancer or supported someone who has, you know how hard it is to make informed choices.

We’re testing a new online programme to help people better understand health information 👇

New report: Evidence supports sunbed ban to reduce skin cancer in Ireland | Institute of Public Health A new report published by the Institute of Public Health (IPH) has recommended a ban on sunbeds to reduce the risk of skin cancer in Ireland, which has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the…

🔴 SUNBED USE IN IRELAND!

Recently published report by the Institute of Public Health includes HBSC Ireland data on youth sunbed use.

HBSC Ireland contributing to policy development!

www.publichealth.ie/news/new-rep...

Mixed feelings about SCHOOL among children in Ireland
The #HBSCTrends Report shows 67.5% like school (2022) vs 68.1% in 1998.
Gender divide emerging:
Girls declining: 74.3% → 66.5% ⬇️
Boys increasing : 62.2% → 68.6% ⬆️

🔗Read the full report: buff.ly/8KOfeCT

#AdolescentHealth #HBSCIreland #School

🚫 BULLYING remains a serious concern for children in Ireland.
More than 1 in 4 children affected. The #HBSCTrends Report shows 28.6% report being bullied at school (2022) vs 24.6% in 1998. Concerning rise driven mainly by girls: 19.6% → 29.5%, while boys stayed steady at ~28%.

#AdolescentHealth

🍽️ Weight concerns among children in Ireland.
The #HBSCTrends Report shows 12.7% of 10-17 year olds diet or try to lose weight (2022) vs 11.9% in 2002.
Notable gender differences:
Girls decreasing: 17.4% → 14.1% ⬇️
Boys rising significantly: 6.6% → 11.2% ⬆️

#AdolescentHealth #HBSCIreland

😴 SLEEP STRUGGLES rising among children in Ireland.
The #HBSCTrends Report shows 46.3% of children experience difficulties getting to sleep about every week or more often for the last 6 months (2022) vs 30.9% in 1998.
🔗Read the full report: buff.ly/8KOfeCT
#HBSCIreland #HealthyIreland #Sleep

🦷 children's DENTAL HABITS in Ireland: progress with gaps to fill.
The #HBSCTrends Report shows 72.5% of 10-17 year olds brush teeth more than once a day (2022) vs 57.6% in 1998.
Solid improvement since 1998, yet nearly 3 in 10 still skip regular brushing.
🔗Read the full report: buff.ly/8KOfeCT

HEADACHES on the rise among children in Ireland
The #HBSCTrends Report shows 38.2% report headaches every week or more for the last 6 months (2022) vs 26.0% in 1998.
Want to know more about trends in adolescent health?
🔗Read the full report: buff.ly/8KOfeCT

#HBSCIreland #HealthyIreland #Headache

📍YOUTH SPACES IN IRELAND: progress but still work to do!
The #HBSCTrends Report shows 63.1% of children say there are good local places to spend free time (2022) vs 45.1% in 2002. But young people highlight challenges...💬
🔗Read the full report: buff.ly/8KOfeCT
#HBSCIreland #YouthSpaces

📚 SCHOOL PRESSURE mounting for children in Ireland.
The #HBSCTrends Report shows 47.8% of children feel pressured by schoolwork (2022) vs 32.9% in 1998.
Academic stress has increased significantly over the last few decades.
🔗Read the full report: buff.ly/8KOfeCT
#AdolescentHealth #HBSCIreland

🚗 CHILDREN IN IRELAND BUCKLING UP: major safety win!
The #HBSCTrends Report shows 81.2% always wear seatbelts when travelling by car (2022) vs just 41% in 1998. Seatbelt use has nearly doubled!
Want to know more about trends in adolescent health?
🔗Read the full report: buff.ly/8KOfeCT
#RoadSafety

Fantastic day at the 2025 Health Promotion Conference in Galway, hosted by @uniofgalway.bsky.social & @galwayhprc.bsky.social

Thanks to all who joined our sessions — we headed home more motivated than ever to push for inclusive, impactful sexual health education.

#hpsc25 #sexualhealthpromotion

Congratulations to Dr. Nahom Negasa, our MA Health Promotion student, for presenting his dissertation research titled "Socio-Cultural Barriers to HPV Vaccination of Women in Low-Income Countries: A Scoping Review" at our Sexual Health Promotion Conference yesterday. Well done, Dr. Negasa! #HBSC2025

👥👥 Children in Ireland spending fewer EVENINGS OUT WITH FRIENDS.
The #HBSCTrends Report shows 28.3% spend 4+ evenings weekly with friends (2022) vs 38% in 1998. Want to know more about trends in adolescent health? buff.ly/8KOfeCT
#AdolescentHealth #HBSCIreland #HealthyIreland