Latest news with #IrishExaminerIpsosB+A
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
'It still is a barrier': Almost 40% of women feel 'lonely and isolated'
Nearly two in five women feel 'lonely and isolated' and only 8% think it is easy to access mental health services, an Irish Examiner Ipsos B+A survey has found. These barriers remain despite almost half the women surveyed saying it is easier to talk about mental health challenges today than in the past. Some 1,078 women were surveyed across Ireland. Women were asked to say how true this is for them: 'I often feel lonely or isolated nowadays'. Some 12% said they strongly agree with this, 27% said they somewhat agree while 18% said they strongly disagreed. Almost two in every five women have visited a healthcare professional about mental health in recent years. A larger number however - 60% - said they have not seen anyone for mental health supports in recent years. Some issues stood out as pushing women to need help including fertility struggles and experiencing a miscarriage as well as perimenopause and to a lesser extent menopause. However, among women who sought help, 30% said access to a professional was either poor or very poor in their experience. Only 13% said this was very good and 27% said this was good. Crisis café Reacting to some of these findings, operations manager with the Solas Café in Cork, Breda Richardson, suggested childcare could be a barrier. This HSE-funded café offers out-of-hours mental health support for men and women. 'We're creating an out-of-hours crisis café for people experiencing mental health difficulties,' she said. 'We're open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, it's a pilot scheme. People can make an appointment for up to 1.5 hours between 6pm and 10.30pm. 'Even with that (flexibility), it still is a barrier for women because a lot of women are on their own and they do have children. And we can't have children come to the café, there still is that barrier there,' she said. 'We have raised that, but it is difficult for people.' Among those who use the café, they see 'people are isolated, people have social anxiety'. Carers, including people caring for elderly relatives or people whose spouse is unwell whether physically or mentally, often attend. They provide 'a listening ear', she said, and can also direct people with more severe illnesses to specialist help. Similar cafes will open in Limerick and Waterford, she added. The survey was carried out by Ipsos B+A for Feelgood, with a nationally representative sample of 1,078 women aged over 16.
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Women putting off having children until they feel they can afford it
A quarter of women surveyed will delay having children until they've reached certain financial or career goals. This jumps to 65% of women aged between 18-24. An Irish Examiner Ipsos B+A survey also found that just under half of mums would like to have more children. Younger mums and those from less affluent backgrounds were most keen to extend their families. Some 70% of women aged over 35 were not keen to have more children. The survey of 1,000 women also found differences in experience for pregnant women between pre-natal services and care after they have their baby. It found attitudes to pregnancy services were broadly positive, with good information and accessibility. However, feedback on postnatal care was more mixed, with one in three saying they had inadequate access to breastfeeding help, for example. Pre-natal care includes GP visits, hospital or community clinic care, and other supports. Some 65% of women said access to these supports was good or very good in their local area, with women from across Ireland surveyed. Similarly, 59% said the information they received was good or very good. However, some women raised concerns about limited options in terms of giving birth, referring to homebirths or birth doulas. Some 36% of women questioned said access to those alternatives, including delivery without pain medication was poor or very poor. In answering questions about birth, 68% of women who have given birth rated support and guidance given throughout labour as very good or good. Communication, however, was raised as a concern, with 10% of women rating communication at this time as poor or very poor, and only 20% saying this was very good. Gaps were reported in care after pregnancy, despite changes in how these services were offered now. While 60% of women said care in hospitals just after birth was good or very good, this dropped to 33% when asked about access to breastfeeding or lactation consultant services after returning home. Some 39% of women said the quality of follow-up care at home from any healthcare worker was fair, poor or very poor. Just under half (45%) of women aged 25-34 reported concerns about postpartum care, compared to 55% of this age group having positive experiences. Poor or very poor care after birth was more likely to be reported by women in their 50s and 60s now looking back, the survey showed. These findings reflect those in the National Maternity Experience Survey in 2020, which identified gaps nationally in postnatal care. The HSE set up a pilot scheme of post-natal hubs, including in Listowel, Co Kerry, in response to that survey. The Irish Examiner's Feelgood supplement celebrates 25 years this year. The survey was carried out by Ipsos B+A for Feelgood, with a nationally representative sample of 1,078 women aged over 16. Read More Financial constraints and housing putting people off having children, survey finds
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
From fertility to fillers, Ireland's women give their views on the issues that matter to them
A third of women cannot afford to have a baby, or another child, with younger women in particular forced to put family plans on hold. One in three also said they would delay having children because of their career or until they have reached certain financial goals, according to an Irish Examiner Ipsos B+A national opinion poll. The study also found 20% of women have difficulty getting pregnant, with half of those considering fertility treatment. Family sizes continue to fall, with just half of mothers with a single child saying they would like to have a second. The average Irish family is now 2.29 children, reflecting falling fertility rates worldwide. The survey of 1,000 women gives a unique insight into the state of women's health. The highlights include: Women want to drink less alcohol, particularly those aged between 25-34; Two in five (38%) have sought help for mental health issues but there are difficulties accessing qualified professionals; 39% of women often feel lonely or isolated; Three-quarters of women over 35 have experienced menopause, but only half of women in perimenopause or menopause seek medical/HCP advice or support; 10% have had Botox, 6% fillers and 12% either treatment; A third would consider freezing their eggs — with half of women aged between 25-34 indicating they would do so. The survey found 68% of women who gave birth rated support during labour as good or very good. However, 45% of women aged 25 to 34 rated their experience of post-natal care as fair or poor, even though the survey showed they were less likely to struggle than older woman had in previous years. Women were very critical of supports after miscarriage and felt they did not get the right information. Access to a GP is a growing problem, with 41% saying it is difficult to get a GP appointment in their area. Fertility struggles featured strongly, with 20% of women saying they experienced this. Despite the State now supporting a funded scheme, only 9% of women felt fertility treatment in Ireland was reasonably priced. Access to a GP is also a growing problem, with 41% saying it is difficult to get a GP appointment in their area. Of those who saw a GP, 42% rated the value for money of the appointment as poor or very poor. Just over half have private health insurance, even though 49% of those who answered said insurance gives poor or very poor value for money. Opinions on care in menopause varied by age, likely reflecting easier access to supports, including HRT now than even five years ago. So while 80% of women aged 35-49 have sought help from a GP or other healthcare worker, just 46% aged over 65 had ever done so. Many women at 45% of those who answered, believe cosmetic procedures are common in their age group. However, just 12% have had either Botox or lip fillers done themselves. The survey found women aged 24-34 feel more positive towards enhancements, including surgery, than older women. A third have used online health services, with 32% following health and wellness influencers online. Just over a third say they feel positive towards people using the weight loss drug Ozempic, with a quarter considering taking the drug themselves. The majority of women (59%) rated their overall health as good or very good, with 58% exercising regularly. Over half take regular vitamins or mineral supplements, maintain a healthy diet, and prioritise getting enough sleep. A tenth are in therapy or counselling, with 14% meditating regularly. The survey was carried out by Ipsos B+A for Feelgood, with a nationally representative sample of 1,078 women aged over 16. Read More Financial constraints and housing putting people off having children, survey finds
