Health Promotion at University of Galway

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

Fascinating talk by Dr Andras Kolto about sexual health across the life course, evidence from past and future population health studies in Ireland and findings from the HBSC study. #HPRC2025 #sexualhealthpromotion #hbsc @historyatgalway.bsky.social @andraskolto.bsky.social

Dr Andras Kolto presenting at HPRC 2025

"There are systemic powers that are (still) keeping sexual & reproductive health issues silent..."

@andraskolto.bsky.social @galwayhprc.bsky.social

#HPRC2025

Prof Philip Dodd speaking in front of a large lecture theatre

Professor Philip Dodd - Deputy Chief Medical Officer @roinnslainte.bsky.social - speaking at the opening of #HPRC2025 @galwayhprc.bsky.social

New sexual health strategy 2025-2035: www.gov.ie/en/healthy-i...

More conference posters 👓🔎
#HPRC2025 #sexualhealthpromotion

Fantastic atmosphere at today’s Health Promotion Conference 🥳#sexualhealthpromotion #HPRC25

Some of the posters presented at our conference today 🎓#HPRC2025

Mr Kevin O’Driscoll & Ms Louise Monaghan (National Youth Council of Ireland) presented on consent and pornography with young people #sexualhealth #HPRC2025

Fascinating research on sexual violence, consent & pornography presented at todays conference on online pornography and condom use, impact on risk-taking behaviour & debunking the myths among young adults in Ireland #HPRC2025 #sexualhealthpromotion

Key note speakers and conference delegates - Dr Andras Kolto, Prof. Peter McHugh, Prof. Philp Dodd, Prof. Colette Kelly, Prof. Martin O’Donnell, Prof Fiona Lyons, Prof. Kaye Wellings & Ruchika Mathur #hprc2025 #sexualhealthpromotion
@hselive.bsky.social @uniofgalway.bsky.social

🤩 CONFERENCE TOMORROW!
We are excited to meet to our more than 170 delegates and learn about the fascinating work in #SexualHealthPromotion in Ireland. Check the scientific programme and the Book of Abstracts: www.hprcconference.ie
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!
#HPRC2025

🚨CONCERNING TRENDS IN ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH IN IRELAND:
The proportion of children (10-17) who reported feeling low about every week or more was 46.3% in 2022 and 23% in 1998, based on the latest #HBSCTrends Report.
🔗Read the full report: buff.ly/9tvqah5
#AdolescentHealth #MentalHealth

🫦 Concerning trends in condom use among young people in Ireland: 55.2% of 15-17 year olds used a condom at last sexual intercourse in 2022, down from 78% in 2010, based on the latest #HBSCTrends. Want to know more about trends in adolescent health?🔗Read the full report: buff.ly/9tvqah5
#SexualHealth

👟👟The #HBSCTrends Report (ages 10-17) shows a slight dip in physical activity with 50.3% reporting vigorous exercise 4+ times a week in 2022 vs 52.6% in 1998.
🔗Read the full report: buff.ly/9tvqah5
#AdolescentHealth #HBSCIreland #HealthyIreland #PhysicalActivity

🥤The #HBSCTrends Report (ages 10-17) shows a dramatic decline in soft drink consumption daily or more from 37.4% in 2002 to 6.6% in 2022. A significant change in beverage choices over 20 years.

🔗Read the full report: buff.ly/9tvqah5

#PublicHealth #AdolescentHealth #HBSCIreland #HealthyIreland

🍎🍐🫐 The #HBSCTrends Report (ages 10-17) shows fruit consumption more than once a day up from 17.6% in 2002 to 24.7% in 2022
More children in Ireland developing healthy eating habits over the past 20 years.

🔗Read the full report: buff.ly/9tvqah5
#AdolescentHealth #HBSCIreland #HealthyEating