Physical Activity

Visit getirelandactive.ie for information about how active you should be.

Visit littlesteps.eu for information and advice on eating well and getting active for you and your family.

Search Publications

Browse by CATEGORY

Select a Category -SELECT- AlcoholBreastfeedingDrugsGeneralHealthy EatingHygieneImmunisationLittle StepsMental HealthPhysical ActivitySafety and accident preventionSexual HealthSmokingSwine Flu - PandemicWomens Health Show all publications

or Search by KEYWORD

Sexual Health

For information, advice and support on sexual health visit yoursexualhealth.ie.

Search Publications

Browse by CATEGORY

Select a Category -SELECT- AlcoholBreastfeedingDrugsGeneralHealthy EatingHygieneImmunisationLittle StepsMental HealthPhysical ActivitySafety and accident preventionSexual HealthSmokingSwine Flu - PandemicWomens Health Show all publications

or Search by KEYWORD

Health Literacy

Literacy involves listening, speaking, reading, writing, numeracy and using everyday technology to communicate and handle information. It includes more than the technical skills of communication: it also has personal, social and economic dimensions. Literacy increases the opportunity for individuals to reflect on their situation and initiate change. Health literacy is defined as:

‘ability to make sound health decisions in the context of everyday life - at home, in the community, at the workplace, the healthcare system, the market place and the political arena’ (Kickbusch et al 2005).

Health literacy is an issue that challenges everyone to varying degrees. People who do not experience literacy difficulties in other areas of life may easily experience difficulty in healthcare settings because they are not used to the setting or indeed the vocabulary. They can struggle to make sense of health related materials with unfamiliar concepts. Emotions can also play a part - when people feel vulnerable and scared their ability to understand information is inhibited.

 Play Health Literacy Video »

The Institute of Medicine in the US provides a very relevant description:

‘Health literacy emerges when the expectations, preferences and skills of individuals seeking health information and services meet the expectations, preferences and skills of those providing the information and services’ (Institute of Medicine 2004).

We have developed a number of tools to support HSE staff and other health care providers to support health literacy

HSE Plain English Style Guide

Literacy Audit for Healthcare Settings

Search Publications

Browse by CATEGORY

Select a Category -SELECT- AlcoholBreastfeedingDrugsGeneralHealthy EatingHygieneImmunisationLittle StepsMental HealthPhysical ActivitySafety and accident preventionSexual HealthSmokingSwine Flu - PandemicWomens Health Show all publications

or Search by KEYWORD

Drugs

For information, advice and support on drugs visit drugs.ie.

For information about legal and illegal highs visit drugs.ie

Search Publications

Browse by CATEGORY

Select a Category -SELECT- AlcoholBreastfeedingDrugsGeneralHealthy EatingHygieneImmunisationLittle StepsMental HealthPhysical ActivitySafety and accident preventionSexual HealthSmokingSwine Flu - PandemicWomens Health Show all publications

or Search by KEYWORD

Mental Health

Visit yourmentalhealth.ie for information and advice about looking after your mental health.

Visit letsomeoneknow.ie for information and advice for young people on looking after your mental health.

Search Publications

Browse by CATEGORY

Select a Category -SELECT- AlcoholBreastfeedingDrugsGeneralHealthy EatingHygieneImmunisationLittle StepsMental HealthPhysical ActivitySafety and accident preventionSexual HealthSmokingSwine Flu - PandemicWomens Health Show all publications

or Search by KEYWORD

Young People

Visit spunout.ie for health information and advice for young people.

Search Publications

Browse by CATEGORY

Select a Category -SELECT- AlcoholBreastfeedingDrugsGeneralHealthy EatingHygieneImmunisationLittle StepsMental HealthPhysical ActivitySafety and accident preventionSexual HealthSmokingSwine Flu - PandemicWomens Health Show all publications

or Search by KEYWORD

Want to give up smoking?

If you are thinking about making your world smoke-free you don’t have to do it alone. There is lots of help and advice available and if you spend some time planning you stand a better chance of giving up for good.

Visit giveupsmoking.ie to start your quit plan today.

Search Publications

Browse by CATEGORY

Select a Category -SELECT- AlcoholBreastfeedingDrugsGeneralHealthy EatingHygieneImmunisationLittle StepsMental HealthPhysical ActivitySafety and accident preventionSexual HealthSmokingSwine Flu - PandemicWomens Health Show all publications

or Search by KEYWORD

Breastfeeding

For information, advice and support on breastfeeding visit breastfeeding.ie.

Search Publications

Browse by CATEGORY

Select a Category -SELECT- AlcoholBreastfeedingDrugsGeneralHealthy EatingHygieneImmunisationLittle StepsMental HealthPhysical ActivitySafety and accident preventionSexual HealthSmokingSwine Flu - PandemicWomens Health Show all publications

or Search by KEYWORD

Alcohol

For information, advice and support on alcohol visit yourdrinking.ie.

For information, advice and support on alcohol visit drugs.ie.

Search Publications

Browse by CATEGORY

Select a Category -SELECT- AlcoholBreastfeedingDrugsGeneralHealthy EatingHygieneImmunisationLittle StepsMental HealthPhysical ActivitySafety and accident preventionSexual HealthSmokingSwine Flu - PandemicWomens Health Show all publications

or Search by KEYWORD