Latest news with #CarolNolan
Dublin Live
03-06-2025
- Health
- Dublin Live
More than 50,000 treated for self-harm in hospitals in Ireland in four years
Irish hospitals treated over 50,000 people for "self-harm" injuries in a four-year period between 2020-2023, the latest data has revealed. The figures were released by the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland in reply to a Dail question from the Laois/Offaly Independent TD Carol Nolan. It records and reports information about self-harm presentations to hospital emergency departments across the country and is operated by the National Suicide Research Foundation. A total of 12,553 people went to hospital with self-harm injuries in 2020,12,661 in 2021, 12,705 in 2022 and 12,792 in 2023. The figures for last year and the first five months of this year are not available yet. Reacting to the figures, the Junior Health Minister with responsibility for mental health services Mary Butler said: "Broadly speaking, self-harm rates are stable year on year and there has been a decline in recent years. Recently published data from the National Suicide Research Foundation Self-Harm Registry highlights that between 2010 and 2023 self-harm rates decreased by 12 per cent. "While there is much more to be done, it is reassuring that the rate did not increase across 2022 and 2023 and we now know that self-harm rates did not increase during the Covid-19 pandemic. The peak self-harm rate recorded for adolescent girls aged 15-19 years in 2021 has decreased in 2022 and 2023 which is positive. "However, self-harm rates in younger female adolescents are continuing to rise highlighting the need to prioritise mental health supports and targeted interventions for young people and their parents." Deputy Nolan branded the data as "alarming" and claimed it doesn't reflect the true number of self-harm instances which took place at home during the pandemic. She said: "There is a serious need for more mental health support and targeted interventions for young people and their parents, and that is something I will continue to advocate for. "We need to make sure that adolescents have access to CAMS services and that there are professionals there to help them and support them in their recovery." According to the last published figures; 504 died in 2020, 512 people died in Ireland from suicide in 2021 and 436 in 2022. These are among one of the highest rates in Europe. Eight out of 10 suicide deaths in Ireland are male. Research by Trinity College last year claimed that the suicide rate in Ireland is being underestimated by 20 to 25 per cent because the burden of proof for a registered suicide in Ireland is higher than other countries. Seven in every 10 people who took their own lives in 2020 were 35 years and older. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
More than 50,000 people treated for self-harm in Irish hospitals in recent years
Irish hospitals treated over 50,000 people for "self-harm" injuries in a four-year period between 2020-2023, the latest data has revealed. The figures were released by the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland in reply to a Dail question from the Laois/Offaly Independent TD Carol Nolan. It records and reports information about self-harm presentations to hospital emergency departments across the country and is operated by the National Suicide Research Foundation. A total of 12,553 people went to hospital with self-harm injuries in 2020,12,661 in 2021, 12,705 in 2022 and 12,792 in 2023. The figures for last year and the first five months of this year are not available yet. Reacting to the figures, the Junior Health Minister with responsibility for mental health services Mary Butler said: "Broadly speaking, self-harm rates are stable year on year and there has been a decline in recent years. "Recently published data from the National Suicide Research Foundation Self-Harm Registry highlights that between 2010 and 2023 self-harm rates decreased by 12 per cent. "While there is much more to be done, it is reassuring that the rate did not increase across 2022 and 2023 and we now know that self-harm rates did not increase during the Covid-19 pandemic. "The peak self-harm rate recorded for adolescent girls aged 15-19 years in 2021 has decreased in 2022 and 2023 which is positive. "However, self-harm rates in younger female adolescents are continuing to rise highlighting the need to prioritise mental health supports and targeted interventions for young people and their parents." Deputy Nolan branded the data as "alarming" and claimed it doesn't reflect the true number of self-harm instances which took place at home during the pandemic. She said: "There is a serious need for more mental health support and targeted interventions for young people and their parents, and that is something I will continue to advocate for. "We need to make sure that adolescents have access to CAMS services and that there are professionals there to help them and support them in their recovery." According to the last published figures; 504 died in 2020, 512 people died in Ireland from suicide in 2021 and 436 in 2022. These are among one of the highest rates in Europe. Eight out of 10 suicide deaths in Ireland are male. Research by Trinity College last year claimed that the suicide rate in Ireland is being underestimated by 20 to 25 per cent because the burden of proof for a registered suicide in Ireland is higher than other countries. Seven in every 10 people who took their own lives in 2020 were 35 years and older.
Extra.ie
02-06-2025
- Health
- Extra.ie
‘Serious alarm' over non-medical sales of weight-loss jabs
A warning from the medicines watchdog that weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic are increasingly becoming available through non-medical routes is a cause of 'serious alarm', Independent TD Carol Nolan has said. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) issued an 'urgent warning' in recent days about false claims being made online for sales of counterfeit semaglutide, using the HPRA logo. Last December, RTÉ Investigates examined the sale of unapproved US weight-loss medication in Ireland which revealed the extent of the booming black market in the prescription weight-loss drugs. Medical experts were especially worried about serious health risks from the use of weight-loss pens from Turkey, counterfeit semaglutide pens used as an anti-obesity medication, and unlabelled glass vials openly advertised on social media. A warning from the medicines watchdog that weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic are increasingly becoming available through non-medical routes is a cause of 'serious alarm', Independent TD Carol Nolan has said. Pic: Getty Images Ms Nolan said the most alarming feature of the official response was 'increasing concern around off-licence use and access through unofficial sources, which is not supported and poses significant safety risks'. In queries to the HSE, Ms Nolan said: 'I have been contacted by a number of people who have expressed unease regarding the potential adverse health side-effects and long-term harms that may be induced when a person uses Ozempic medication for weight loss.' In a letter to the embattled organisation, Ms Nolan also asked: 'Has the HSE conducted any research on this matter and is the HSE aware of the apparently growing international literature highlighting adverse outcomes for those who use Ozempic?' One source said: 'It is quite common and easily secured. Often it's a mother-daughter bonding before weddings and holidays' Responding, HSE manager Ann Horgan said: 'I have consulted with the National Clinical Programme (NCP) for Obesity on your question and have been informed the NCP is actively monitoring emerging international evidence on the efficacy and safety of GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide. 'The HSE was represented at the European Congress of Obesity in Malaga in May 2025, where the use of obesity medications was discussed. When used as licensed and under clinical supervision, the benefits of semaglutide are considered to outweigh the risks for appropriately selected patients.' The HPRA said last week it had seen a 'surge' in misleading website activity in May alone. It said: 'The websites, which are hosted outside of Ireland by the e-commerce platform Shopify, are being directly prompted to consumers via fake Facebook profiles and ads.' Pic: Getty Images Commenting on the concerns, Ms Nolan said: 'I would urge everyone who is considering going down the Ozempic route to limit their engagement to medical professionals prior to embarking on a course of medication. 'I understand there may be a sense of urgency among some people and a sense that they do not have time to wait in terms of accessing a massively over-burdened primary care and hospital service. But the dangers are real and cannot be ignored. 'I would also highlight our need to dramatically ramp up our detection capacity in terms of taking any illegal consignments of Ozempic out of the public space. 'We are all aware of recent media investigations on this issue and still the problem appears to be escalating. 'That is deeply alarming given the potential for such dire health outcomes for people who may be drawn in by ruthless individuals who couldn't give a damn about what impact unregulated medication access causes
Agriland
20-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
TD: Food regulator has done ‘tangible' work but concern remains
A TD has said that the Agri-Food Regulator (An Rialálaí Agraibhia) has done 'tangible' work since its formation, but concern remains over obstacles to food suppliers engaging with the regulator. Independent TD Carol Nolan has described the work of the regulator to date as 'a tangible and hopeful indication that real progress is being made on redressing the financial power imbalance that has traditionally existed between farmers, suppliers and the retail sector'. She was speaking after attending the inaugural conference of the Agri-Food Regulator today (Tuesday, May 20). 'I have been consistently engaging with the work of the regulator, and indeed its precursor structure, the unfair trading practices (UTP) Enforcement Authority… So I'm delighted that it continues to operate with the level of forceful commitment that we all need to see.' However, Nolan also said: 'I do find it concerning, however, that issues I would have raised in June 2022 around fear of retaliation from the large retailers is still leading to lower-than expected levels of complaints being made.' Today's conference saw the presentation of the regulator's first Supplier Survey, which the body is aiming to carry out on an annual basis going forward. 'The feedback from the Supplier Survey findings that were discussed at the conference made it clear that there is still quite a way to go in terms of gaining the trust of farmers to lodge complaints if they feel they are being targeted with unfair trading practices,' she added. The Offaly TD acknowledged that some retailers 'are being much more proactive about this'. 'But what we really need to see is an equality of approach right across the board from all of the major [retailers]. Nolan called for the Agri-Food Regulator to be sufficiently staffed and resourced. 'We have the skeleton of an enforcement authority that is doing great work with what it has, but we now need to put proper flesh on the bones. That means more funding and more staff and if need be, more wide-ranging statutory powers,' she said. Agri-Food Regulator The chairperson of the Agri-Food Regulator has indicated that he is confident that the regulator will be afforded further powers in order to carry out its functions. Speaking to Agriland at the inaugural conference of the Agri-Food Regulator today (Tuesday, May 20), Joe Healy said that, with the powers the regulator currently has, it is not possible to 'get the full picture'. 'We're very straight, very independent and very honest with the businesses, but we want them to give us the information as well,' Healy said. 'We are happy, having met the minister…[that] the government is committed in the Programme for Government to giving us enough power to do our job, he said his department are treating it as a priority…and that it his intention as minister for agriculture to ensure that the Agri-Food Regulator has the powers to carry out the duties it was set up to do,' the regulator chairperson added.
Irish Independent
14-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Charities in Offaly urged to seek nominations for AIB community fund
Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has encouraged registered charities in the constituency to consider seeking a nomination from the public for financial assistance through the AIB Community Fund. The funding of €1 million enables customers, the public and AIB employees to support the local charities that matter most to them within their region. The fund supports charities across six regions in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Follow Independent Offaly on Facebook AIB will once again allocate €700,000 to charities chosen by its customers and the community, while €300,000 will be donated to charities chosen by employees. More information will be made available through a public meeting in AIB Tullamore, to be held tomorrow, May, 15 at 6.30pm. 'This is a wonderful opportunity for a registered charity in Offaly to receive vital funding and I urge all of those interested to go along to the meeting and see how the process can work for them and those they serve,' Deputy Nolan said. 'There are some conditions however that people should be aware of. These include the fact that charities that received funding in the previous three years are ineligible for nomination while projects related to religious or political activities or where animals are the primary beneficiaries, are also ineligible. 'Nominations typically open in mid-May and close end-June. They must be nominated by the public and they cannot nominate themselves,' she added. Once nominations are confirmed, the top six charities chosen customers and communities in each region will receive €20,000, while the top six charities chosen by AIB employees in each region will receive €6,000. If a charity is nominated in both Funds, they will receive €26,000. The selected charities will be announced in early Autumn of this year. 'Eligible charities have nothing to lose and everything to gain so I would urge both their representatives and the public to go along to the event tomorrow evening,' Deputy Nolan said.
