Latest news with #Wellbeing
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Music and arts help boost wellbeing for Guernsey patients
Patients at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital (PEH) have been enjoying crafting and music thanks to a joint initiative to boost wellbeing. The Participatory Arts Programme is a collaboration between Health and Social Care (HSC), Guernsey Art Network (GAN) and the School of Popular Music (SoPM).The Healthcare Musician Programme brings live music to children's wards and the Creativity Trolley offers activity packs for patients and hospital staff. Lottie Barnes, the government head of creative health, said the programme was an "incredible success" with more than 100 patients engaging with it each week. The programme, funded through grants and charities, was started as a way to boost wellbeing, provide comfort and promote therapeutic benefits to people in hospital care."I am thrilled to see the positive impact the participatory arts programme at the PEH is having on our patients, their families, and our staff," said Ms Barnes."We understand that being in a hospital can be challenging, and our goal is to make the experience just a little bit better." 'Magical moment' The Healthcare Musician Programme sees the SoPM perform for patients in the children's ward and neonatal unit. A family member of a patient on Frossard Ward said a performance had been a "magical moment that was so uplifting and calming"."The musicians were brilliant, and it meant so much to us as a family to have that short time that created an escape," they said. "We could participate as much or as little as we wanted, which made the experience both engaging and peaceful for all of us." The Creativity Trolley, which was launched in May 2024, is a mobile art cart filled with supplies and activity are able to have one-on-one guided art sessions at their bedside, group workshops, or independent creative activities. Trained practitioners and volunteers visit areas across the hospital, including the children's Frossard Ward and the Bulstrode Oncology Unit for cancer patients. Hospital ward manager Jane Baker said it was a "huge help for our staff" whenever the art team visited the ward."They make such a positive impact on our patients by giving them things to do and enabling them to practise skills and develop new ones," she said.
Extra.ie
15-05-2025
- Health
- Extra.ie
Irish teenagers succeeding at school but struggling with life, UN study finds
Irish teenagers are great at school but among the least happy in the developed world, a United Nations report has found. The country is ranked fifth overall in a global league table of 'Child Wellbeing'. The ranking is based on three areas: mental health, where Ireland ranks a lowly 24th; physical health, where we're ranked 11th; and skills, where the country tops the global league table. Pic: Getty Images The study, conducted by UNICEF, used official data from 36 countries, making comparisons and offering analysis. Top of the list was the Netherlands, followed by Denmark, France and Portugal, with Ireland in fifth. Britain is ranked 21st and scores below Ireland on all three categories. The report – Report Card 19: Child Wellbeing at Risk in an Unpredictable World – compares the well-being of children across 43 OECD and EU countries. According to the findings, one in three Irish 15-year-olds report low life satisfaction. Ireland's youth suicide rate was also found to be above the international average. Unicef Ireland executive director Peter Power said: 'These findings are stark. Ireland's teens are succeeding in school but struggling in life. We must match our investment in academic achievement with the same urgency for mental and emotional wellbeing.' The report gives no reason for the low level of 'life satisfaction'. Pic: Getty Images It said: 'Analysing change from 2018 to 2022, the report found the Covid-19 pandemic had a marked negative impact on children's mental health as a result of school shutdowns and social isolation. 'Across 26 countries with available data, life satisfaction among adolescents declined in 22.' More than one in four children and young teenagers were also found to be overweight or obese. UNICEF Ireland has called on the Government to take targeted actions to protect child wellbeing, including increasing investment in school mental health services, improving school meals and strengthening digital resilience. The report said: 'Over the past 25 years, there have been notable improvements in child wellbeing in the group of countries examined in this report: steady decline in child mortality, overall reduction in adolescent suicide and increase in school completion rates.' Pic: Shutterstock However, it added: 'The last five years have shown warning signs in deteriorating life satisfaction and falling academic skills in most countries. Obesity rates are also rising.' The report shows that the hard-won progress in child wellbeing in this group of countries is becoming increasingly vulnerable to global events and shocks. The past five years have shown warning signs in deteriorating life satisfaction and falling academic skills in most countries. The report also highlights the closeness between Irish children and their parents, revealing how often children's parents, or someone close to them, spent time just talking with them. It points out that the frequency of talking with parents is strongly positively associated with life satisfaction. 'In all countries, more than half of children said that their parents spent time talking with them at least once a week, ranging from 53% in Japan to 91% in Ireland,' it said. Ireland has the third-lowest child mortality rate among rich countries in the world, at six deaths per 10,000 children aged five to 14. Across six indicators of child wellbeing from 2018 to 2022, Ireland's position improved in three of them – suicide, mortality and social – and was static in the remaining three: life satisfaction, overweight and academic. Its position did not deteriorate in any category, the study found.
RTÉ News
14-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Ireland's teens among least happy in developed world
A UN report indicates that Irish teenagers are among the least happy in high-income countries, despite leading the world in academic skills. The study by UNICEF drew on official data from many countries, making comparisons and offering analysis. The report, entitled - Report Card 19: Child Wellbeing at Risk in an Unpredictable World - compares the wellbeing of children across 43 OECD and EU countries. According to the findings, Irish teenagers are succeeding in school but struggling in life, with nearly one in three 15-year-olds reporting low life satisfaction. Ireland's youth suicide rate was also found to be above the international average. "These findings are stark," said Executive Director of UNICEF Ireland Peter Power. "Ireland's teens are succeeding in school, but struggling in life. We must match our investment in academic achievement with the same urgency for mental and emotional wellbeing." Analysing change from 2018 to 2022, the report found the pandemic had a marked negative impact on children's mental health as a result of school shutdowns and social isolation. Across 26 countries with available data, life satisfaction among adolescents declined in 22. More than one in four children and young teenagers were also found to be overweight or obese. UNICEF Ireland is calling on the Government to take targeted actions to protect child wellbeing, including increasing investment in school mental health services, improving school meals and strengthening digital resilience.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Revamping curriculum, students under stress can take exam later: BITS Pilani Goa on suicides
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Panaji: BITS Pillani's Goa campus is in the process of revamping the curriculum and is offering an option to students to appear for exams later if they are under stress, officials said on Sunday. The development comes after three cases of student suicide at the institution's Goa campus in five months. The institute has also initiated an internal review of the support system available to students on campus.A 20-year-old student was found hanging in his hostel room earlier this week."We are revamping the existing curriculum, and a separate committee has been constituted to streamline the academic content. Students in distress under the current circumstances have been given the flexibility to take examinations at a later time. New courses on mental and physical wellness and stress management will be included in the revised curriculum. A Student Wellbeing Dashboard is being developed to provide personalised support and timely interventions," the institute said in a also urged students to take that crucial first step and ask for help."Acknowledge when you are struggling and reach out for support. Trust the process of therapy and maintain open communication with family and loved ones. No matter how robust our support systems are, they can only help when students choose to engage with them. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness. It is a courageous act of self-awareness and strength. If you are finding it difficult to cope, please speak up. Help is available, and you do not have to face this alone," it institute said it is extending support to the local authorities and the family and has initiated an internal review to understand how best it can strengthen its support systems further."The tragic loss of our student, Krishna Kasera, has deeply saddened the entire community. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all who were touched by his life. We understand that this is an incredibly difficult time for everyone, and we are dedicated to providing compassionate support and care to all members of our community. We are extending full support to the local authorities and the family and have initiated an internal review to understand how best we can strengthen our support systems further," it said.
South Wales Argus
29-04-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Wales to provide same-day mental health support through 111
This is part of a new 10-year Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy that aims to improve care across the country. The strategy focuses on early intervention, prevention, and person-centred care, ensuring that people are referred to the most appropriate form of support without delay. A key element of this transformation is the introduction of open access services that provide same-day support without the need for a referral. This initiative has already started with the Wales-wide 111 press 2 service for urgent mental health care. The plan also includes a stepped care model that provides appropriate support at each level, with people only being referred for more intensive support if needed. Sarah Murphy MS, minister for mental health and wellbeing, said: "This strategy represents a major shift in how we approach mental health and wellbeing in Wales. "By focusing on prevention and early intervention, while ensuring easy access to support when needed, we are working to create a Wales where everyone can thrive. "We know that good mental health depends on much more than healthcare alone. "That's why we're working to address all the factors that affect wellbeing – from housing and employment to tackling loneliness and building stronger communities." The strategy also aims to improve connections between services to provide support when needed. This person-centred approach includes linking people to community-based, non-clinical support through a 'social prescribing' process. Living Streets Cymru, which organises weekly guided walks and campaigns for better walking infrastructure, is one of the organisations that has benefited from Welsh Government support. Ruth Billingham from Living Streets Cymru said: "Walking has huge mental and physical health benefits. "Joining a walking group is also brilliant for self-confidence and reducing loneliness. "Our local groups bring people together to organise walks, make new connections and campaign for changes to their local walking environment."
