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ILMI eBulletin 19th January 2024

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ILMI eBulletin
ILMI eBulletin 19th of January 2024  

As always if you want to know more about any of these articles or ILMI’s work in general then do get in touch. You can reach us at info@ilmi.ie

In This Issue:
Employment
SFC Employment Working Group
Joint Committee on Assisted Dying
VOICE
Opinion piece in the Journal
National Disability Strategy survey

Disabled People and Employment Opportunities: Developing a DPO analysis of how systems need to change!

IMAGE: text reads “Systems need to change” in a text message format coming from ILMI, over a close up photo of a man in a suit holding plans using a wheelchair  

Developing an ILMI vision for systems change in Employment
From January 2024, LMI is creating online cross-impairment thematic discussion spaces to develop our own vision for employment.

What the Green Paper discussions on social welfare changes and employment for disabled people demonstrated was the need for ILMI as a DPO need our own long-term vision that is based on the lived experience of disabled people for what systems should look like.

What is the need?
There is an absence of a DPO- led discussion on what actually needs to happen on a systems level to increase the participation of disabled people in employment. The Comprehensive Employment Strategy 2015 to 2024 was developed in a completely different context, where no collective spaces for disabled people existed (DPOs) for disabled people to develop their own analysis of what didn’t work, what would work and how disabled people would be part of building inclusive systems and supports.

What are we going to do? How will this work and what will we develop?

  • We will create spaces for disabled people to move from how dysfunctional the system currently is towards disabled people identifying based on their expertise on how the system should change
  • We will build a shared analysis for disabled people to bring to politicians and policy makers on real systems change for disabled people in relation to employment
  • We will build a DPO led the narrative on how thing needed to change on clear but interlinked themes that show the complexity of employment.

Thematic discussions: Sign up to have your voice heard:
Working with the Strategies For Change employment working group, ILMI has identified themes that need to be explored to build a shared analysis on to inform an employment system that works for disabled people.

Themes and dates for discussions are as follows:

  1. ILMI Employment Strategy: A Call to get involved. What is this campaign? Why are ILMI doing this? When will this happen? And how will it be managed? January Wednesday 24th 12 noon to 2pm
  2. Expectations for disabled people in Primary and Post- Primary education; including Career Guidance and disabled people;  the role of SNAs and Teacher training colleges and teacher expectations (including in-service training) January Tuesday 30th January 12 noon to 2pm
  3. Parental expectations (including education and employment) Thursday 1st February 12 noon to 2pm
  4. Experiences of further education and training; Tuesday 6th February 7pm to 9pm
  5. Peer support and internalised barriers Thursday 8th February 7pm to 9pm
  6. Mainstream employment services; including employment activation programmes such as CE, Tus and SICAP Tuesday 13th February 12 noon to 2pm
  7. Access to information on benefits and pathways; including reasonable accommodations and supports in employment; Thursday 15th February 12 noon to 2pm
  8. Role of entrepreneurs / business start-up supports for disabled people Tuesday 29th February 12 noon to 2pm
  9. Employment and cost of disability Tuesday March 5th 12 noon to 2pm
  10. Mainstream mentoring programmes (including within large corporations CSR) Thursday 7th March 12 noon to 2pm

All these discussions will take place on Zoom and be facilitated to develop collective analysis of how systems should be designed, built and resourced to realise disabled people’s potential in employment. These discussions will be guided by ILMI’s core values of human rights, collective empowerment and social justice.

What will this process deliver?

  • ILMI will have its own vision for systems change to build expectations for disabled people in accessing employment.
  • ILMI will have an analysis on what needs to change on different levels.
  • ILMI can share this analysis with disabled people to inform local and national policy discussions (especially in relation to a new CRPD implantation strategy)
  • ILMI can focus on key thematic policy issues under our Social Justice value in our new strategic plan to take strategic actions.

To register for specific thematic discussions, email info@ilmi.ie with the discussion you wish to attend.

You can also register to be on a mailing list for all discussions and opt in as suits your time.

These spaces are for disabled people only.

For disabled people who are unable to attend discussions, we will facilitate ways for people to feed in their thoughts to contribute to this ILMI process.

SFC Employment Working Group

IMAGE: Screenshot of group

One of ILMI’s most remarkable achievements over the  three years has been the ground-breaking Strategies for Change course. It was designed to equip the participants (all disabled people) with the skills and knowledge to work collectively as activists and achieve change. The graduates have utilised their learning by establishing  working groups that focus on a particular topic that disabled people have to contend with. One of the themes that emerged was employment, a subject that has many facets but the members of the employment working group were determined to work together to address some of the issues related to this topic and produce something of tangible benefit for all disabled people.

The working group recognised many of the barriers  that disabled people encountered when trying to find employment, but they realised no one had ever directly asked disabled people what would the perfect suite of employment supports would like.

Now, The working group are very excited to see ILMI undertake the first intensive consultation with disabled people, an opportunity for people to articulate their vision of the type of employment supports that would really meet their needs. This process starts on the 24th of January until the 7th of March, each online meeting focuses on a particular topic and all the information will be compiled into a document which will be presented to relevant stakeholders.

Joint Committee on Assisted Dying met on the topic of “engaging with disabled people”

IMAGE Screenshot of Peter Kearns

Peter Kearns, a disabled activist, artist, and DPO development officer with the Independent Living Movement Ireland, expressed significant concerns about assisted dying at the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying. He highlighted the apprehension among disabled people, emphasising that the consideration of assisted dying comes at a time when they lack essential supports for leading fulfilling lives. Kearns cautioned that the introduction of assisted dying could lead disabled people to perceive themselves as burdens due to insufficient support. He urged the committee to focus on providing necessary practical, emotional, and medical support for disabled people to lead dignified lives, emphasising the importance of choice, control, and agency throughout their our course.

Video link is here

Opening statement, Peter Kearns, DPO Development officer, Independent Living Movement of Ireland (ILMI) link is here

RTE Article “Disabled people have ‘huge concerns’ around assisted dying, committee hears” link is here 

ILMI VOICE

IMAGE: poster for VOICE Coaching sessions detailed below

Exciting updates and upcoming events!
Come along to get involved!

On Tuesday, 23 January from 7-8pm via Zoom, the newest member of the VOICE team, Colm Whooley will talk about his role as VOICE Peer Mentor/Coach. Colm will explain how the process of Coaching works and answer any questions you may have. There will be opportunities to avail of a one-to-one coaching service.

The ILMI VOICE team will also outline how the project promotes the empowerment of disabled people and how you can get involved.

On Wednesday, 7 February from 2.30-3.30pm via Zoom, there will be an online consultation on the Green Paper. The session will be hosted by ILMI’s DPO development Officer, Peter Kearns. This will be a vital opportunity for any disabled people living in Kilkenny, Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Wexford or Waterford to have their voices heard on this significant proposal!

The VOICE Team will also be starting a five-week series of workshops on the 13th February that might be of interest to you. VOICE is a cross impairment space, so all disabled people over the age of 16 are welcome. The sessions take place on Zoom every Tuesday for five weeks from 7-8pm.

If you don’t feel confident about participating online, we can support you with training and we have a limited number of tablets that can be provided, if access to technology is an issue for any disabled person in Cork, Tipperary, Wexford or Waterford.

If you would like to register for the online session, please contact Nicola Meacle, VOICE Community Development worker for Cork and Tipperary, email her at nicolameacle@ilmi.ie  or phone her on 087 7189237.

If you live in Waterford or Wexford, please contact Paula Soraghan, VOICE Community Development worker for those counties at paulasoraghan@ilmi.ie  or phone her on 087 1630433.

Opinion piece in the Journal
Housing has always been a crisis for disabled people with thousands without a home
Jacqui Browne writes how Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs) can bring about policies to give disabled people choice and control over their lives.

“Why do we as a country continue to ‘throw good money after bad’?
It goes back to who is sitting around the table and setting the agenda for what disabled people actually want and need.”
Full article here 

National Disability Strategy
The NDA invite you to complete a short survey that will help shape the new National Disability Strategy. The survey will remain open until February 11 and is available in English, Irish, Easy to Read and a screen reader compatible version. Visit  here for the links.

This survey is part of a wider consultation process that is explained further here

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World Cancer Day webinar 2024: Reduce your risk of lung and bowel cancer

Posted on by Cork CIL Admin

The Irish Cancer Prevention Network is hosting a public free webinar for World Cancer Day 2024. The lunchtime webinar will feature experts presenting on

  • how we can reduce our  risk of bowel and lung cancer
  • the early signs of these cancers
  • encouraging people to seek medical help promptly if they have worrying signs or symptoms.

 

Register to watch the live webinar or to receive the recording to watch back.

Click this link to register or visit www.hse.ie/cancerprevention

Library Link – Cork City Libraries

Posted on by Cork CIL Admin

Are you housebound due to illness or accident?

Cork City Libraries can deliver to you at home, and we can deliver to nursing homes in the city area too.

Simply email nora_harrington@corkcity.ie or call 021 4924900 to register.

Alternatively ask at your local Cork City Libraries Branch if you, or someone you know, might benefit from this service. It’s simple to sign up and it’s free.

DFI Newsletter – January 2024

Posted on by Cork CIL Admin

 

 

Posted on by Cork CIL Admin

 

 


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ILMI eBulletin
ILMI eBulletin 12th January 2024   

                  IMAGE; photo shows Selina smiling wearing her trademark lipstick, rock chick necklace, statement earrings and her glasses. 

Selina Bonnie tribute from ILMI

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the sudden passing of our friend and comrade, Selina Bonnie who passed away this weekend. ILMI delayed in posting this tribute until now so that all of Selina’s family members in Ireland and abroad could be told of her passing.

It was with great shock that we learned of Selina’s passing. Selina was known, loved and respected by so many in the Movement and beyond as a real trailblazer in disability equality, pushing for equality for disabled people and specifically disabled women in so many spaces. Her passing leaves a void for all of us that will be impossible to replace.

As a professional, academic and activist, Selina has been actively involved in the practical realisation of disabled people’s rights in Ireland and beyond. In drafting a tribute, it is an impossible task to capture the range and breath of what Selina as an activist achieved, and even still that will fall short in capturing the impact Selina had on so many people’s lives and the deep emotional connections she made, and how deeply her loss will be felt by so many.

For those who know how confident and proud she was about her identity as a disabled woman, it was quite a surprise to hear Selina honestly recount that in her youth she struggled with her identity until her early twenties. Her pathway to disability activism came through her work in music, the arts and engaging with LGBT organisations. She was inspired to organise Ireland’s first disability and sexuality conference in the Mansion House, which was entitled All Different, All Sexual in 1995.

Disability and sexual equality became a lifelong passion for Selina, as she studied sexual equality in Leeds University, where Professor Colin Barnes supervised her dissertation entitled “Facilitating Sexual Expression Within the Independent Living Movement in Ireland”. She later lectured on sexuality at the summer school in Santander, Spain and subsequently wrote a chapter on disability and sexuality, published by University College Cork.

Selina’s involvement in the Independent Living Movement began in 1995 when she met Martin Naughton and from that moment, she became involved in CIL, becoming the Public Affairs officer and working with Martin, John Doyle, Dermot Walsh, Joe T Mooney and Christian O’Reilly on actions to advance independent living.

For Selina, being an activist wasn’t enough and so she became a “changemaker”, working within structures, building allies for change. Selina put this to practice in her professional life in her role as Access Officer in South Dublin County Council, starting in 2001. Selina has been instrumental in practically embedding inclusion into the work of SDCC and other agencies locally and nationally. Selina had a knack for alliance building and finding ways to get other people to take inclusion and access seriously saying, “if you can speak to architects and planners in their own language, real progress can be made”.  Selina led many important local and national initiatives, including the coordination of National Accessibility Week.

Selina joined the board of CIL in January 2018 and she played an active role as CIL transformed into ILMI, especially in ensuring that ILMI’s language and vision was strongly informed by a social model analysis of disability and that all of our work would be informed by a commitment to intersectional Disability Equality. Among Selina’s many, many talents were that she was a meticulous proof-reader. As part of her role in South Dublin County Council, she would plain English-proof documents, and she was hugely generous and patient in doing so for all ILMI’s key policy documents where her attention to detail was second to none.

Selina’s ability to see the bigger picture was always evident in her involvement in how ILMI should develop as a DPO. With her expertise in reproductive rights, she was a proud ambassador for the University of Galway Re(al) Productive Justice project and led ILMI’s involvement in the Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) Coalition in the last number of years, speaking passionately about her own lived experience as a “survivor of the Assisted Human Reproduction system in Ireland”.

It is no secret that Selina’s proudest and most cherished role was that of a mother. Her devotion to her beloved daughter is a shining example of her boundless love and strength. Selina’s personal journey fuelled her passion for reproductive justice, offering support and solidarity to those who all too often felt isolated in this experience.

Although Selina was a private person, she shared her experience of ableist attitudes she and husband faced in accessing AHR to ensure that other disabled persons and their partners would not have to experience as much heartache, exclusion and prejudice in the future. When Selina spoke to politicians and policy makers about her experiences and how legislation needed to be equality proofed to secure reproductive rights for disabled persons, they listened.

Selina was not only a brilliant academic, a trailblazer in reproductive justice for disabled people and a fearless activist. She was kind, patient and wise. As one peer said, “Selina didn’t say much in meetings, but that was because she didn’t need to. When Selina spoke, it was polite, but clear and so concise and to the point. And it usually gave the clarity that we needed to move forward”.

Another peer noted that even with her deep knowledge, Selina never was never arrogant about her wisdom. Her beautiful way with others meant that she very generously supported others in their critical thinking and analysis. “You never left a meeting or a gentle chat with Selina without feeling you had learned something from her, but in a very subtle way”.

Alongside all of her insight, strategic vision there was a very gentle, caring nature to everything Selina did. She would be the first to recognise other disabled people’s achievements or the need for ILMI to check in with people for support.

Selina was not only a proud disabled woman; she was also very proud of her Indian / Irish heritage and continually directed ILMI’s work as a DPO to be intersectional in its nature. She never sought the limelight but also never shied away from taking on key roles when asked, including leading a number of key online ILMI events in recent years. One of her undoubted highlights was the conversation that she held with her friend, the late Judith Heumann, a few days before Judith was to attend the Oscars for her part in the movie Crip Camp. Their deep mutual respect was evident on the night and the recording is one of Selina’s many contributions to ILMI that we can treasure.

Selina willingly shared her insight and wisdom in many ILMI spaces such as Strategies for Change, and she was one of the first volunteers for the online Conversations about Activism and Change. When Sarah Fitzgerald saw the opportunity to turn these into an ILMI book documenting Disability Rights in Ireland, Selina couldn’t have been happier. She was so proud to be part of the historic launch, and with her usual ability to summarise the occasion, she noted that it was a book written by a disabled woman, capturing the words of disabled activists, funded by a disabled man’s legacy that made the book so unique. She tirelessly championed the book in her work, and immediately ensured it was stocked in libraries in South Dublin and beyond and secured an event for the book at the prestigious Red Line book festival in October 2023, where she spoke with Peter Kearns about the significance of the book.

She was immensely proud of how ILMI had evolved as a DPO and was deeply proud of her contributions in making the organisation stronger. She was always delighted to see emerging disabled activists finding their voice and seeing other disabled people raise collective issues. For Selina, it was always about being strategic, it was always about having a shared Disability Equality analysis, and it was always about building a cross-impairment collective. Selina was a gentle woman who responded to the call of disability activism, with grace, generosity and dignity.

Selina had a wonderful sense of humour. She was a keen cook, she was passionate about music and she had a wicked sense of style and fashion. Family was everything to Selina and she always spoke with a deep sense of love and pride for her husband and daughter, and also her mother, father, siblings and extended family.

ILMI would like to express our deepest condolences to Selina’s husband Rob, her beloved daughter Saira Noor and her extended family.

Rest in power Selina.

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HSE Health and Wellbeing Weekly Update 11/01/2024

Posted on by Cork CIL Admin

HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast, Episode 39 – Parenting: Talking It Out

Photo of Lulu O'Kelly and Linda Picket in studio

 

Listen to the latest episode of the HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast, as our host Eamon Keogh, is joined by Parenting Facilitators, Lulu O’Kelly, Bray Area Partnership and Linda Picket, Northside Area Partnership, to talk about the parenting peer groups they run, how they are a safe, non-judgemental place, where day to day experiences, like meal times, screen times and the big one, “Saying No” are discussed. They talk about the every day challenges parents face, offering some guidance, based on their vast experiences, and highlight the value of peer support in parenting groups, where parents lean on each other and find comfort in the fact that in most cases; they are all dealing with the same day to day issues.

 

Please leave us a review on your chosen podcast channel or on the HSE Health and Wellbeing YouTube channel to promote the content to others who are interested in the area, and to get in touch with the podcast email Healthandwellbeing.communication@hse.ie.

 

 

Making Every Contact Count

 

The Making Every Contact Count eLearning training programme certification has been modified. The eLearning now takes a total time of 3 hours (reduced from 4 hours) covering the six core modules;

 

  • 2 x Health Behaviour Change; ‘Introduction to Behaviour Change’ and ‘Skills into Practice’
  • 4 x Topic Modules on ‘Tobacco’, ‘Alcohol & Drugs’, ‘Healthy Eating’ and ‘Physical Activity’

 

The two new modules on ‘Talking about Overweight & Obesity’ and ‘Promoting Mental Health & Wellbeing’ are available on completion of the core modules. Completion of the additional modules is encouraged and will now provide additional certification. With the time commitment now significantly reduced, we hope that this will encourage greater participation and facilitate completion of the Making Every Contact Count training programme, to reduce chronic disease and encourage positive health behaviour changes.

 

 

Ireland Lights Up

 

The Ireland Lights Up initiative run by the GAA in conjunction with Get Ireland Walking returns this year as part of Operation Transformation. GAA clubs across the country are turning on their lights and organising regular walks for members of the community.

 

 

Opportunity to contribute to ESRI research project

 

The ESRI are doing some research comparing expert and public views on perceptions of obesity to follow up on the survey done in 2022. They have issued an invitation for eligible health service colleagues to take part in the expert version.

 

It takes 15 minutes to complete online and is fully anonymous. They are looking for people:

  1. with expertise in research, policy or clinical care in the areas of physical activity, nutrition, health behaviour or obesity;
  2. working in Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States.

 

Click here to complete the survey.

 

 

Walk21 Ireland conference – one year on

 

In January 2023, a very successful Walk 21 Ireland conference was held in the grounds of TU Dublin. A key objective for the Irish organising committee in planning the international event was to foster a sustainable legacy from it. This has now been realised with Dr Lorraine D’Arcy Sustainability Action Research & Innovation Lead in TU Dublin, her colleague Dr Eoin McGullicuddy and Caren Gallagher from Office of the Planning Regulator having successfully secured a SFI National Challenge Fund Sustainable Communities Grant to build on the legacy of the conference. The CRAWL project is looking to inform policy makers and practitioners for a collective approach to design for and delivering on walkability and liveability. To start, it will use TU Dublin’s campus locations as a testbed and aspires to also work with campus communities, local authorities and stakeholders from surrounding neighbourhoods to create an action research programme to increase the walkability and liveability of the campus neighbourhoods.

 

 

CarePALS training dates for Spring/Summer 2024

 

The aim of the CarePALs training is to enable care staff to deliver physical activity sessions to those in their care, which can be included as part of their daily or weekly routines, without additional costs to the care setting. The training is offered by Age & Opportunity and funded through the national H&W Grant Agreement with them. Dates for Spring/Summer 2024 are included in the attached document. Please circulate/communicate through your networks.

 

 

NCSCT Training for New Stop Smoking Advisors

 

The next course is on 7th and 8th of February 2024 in Athlone. Applications for NCSCT face to face training for new Stop Smoking Advisors should be submitted to training.tfi@hse.ie. All new staff with a tobacco brief should be given the induction document to support them in their stop smoking service role.

 

 

2023 – A record-breaking year for delivery of HSE Stop Smoking Services

 

Latest available information indicates that 2023 has being a record-breaking year for the delivery of HSE Stop Smoking Services, across community & hospital settings, and by telephone, on the National QuitLine; Over 19,000 quit attempts were supported by HSE Stop Smoking Advisors.  This means the Stop Smoking Service have achieved and exceeded their 2023 Target KPIs – a great achievement!

Significant investment through the Sláintecare Healthy Community Initiative and the Enhanced Community Care Chronic Disease Programme across our Nine Community Health Organisations greatly enhanced the availability of HSE Stop Smoking Services across our communities. Coupled with the offering of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products to those who engage with our services, many more people were able to make more effective quit attempts; by using both behavioural support and stop smoking medicines, as recommended in our National Stop Smoking Clinical Guidelines (2022).

 

 

Quit – January Partner Pack

 

See attached the QUIT campaign partner pack for January. As usual, QUIT will get a big push this month across TV, radio, video on demand, social and digital media and press interviews. In the pack there is social media messaging that can be shared from your own local X account through your CHO Communication Manager. Nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) are free for anyone who wants to quit smoking with the support of the QUIT service. You can find information on how they work and how to get free NRT in the attached pack or through the press release issued.

 

 

Think Brain Health Webinar

In partnership with Healthy Ireland this exciting webinar will take place on 24 January from 11am to 12pm. Register here to join our experts to discover how adopting healthy behaviors can support your incredible brain. Sarah Mc Cormack, Healthy Ireland Lead, HSE Health & Wellbeing and Dr. Sean O’Dowd, Consultant Neurologist, Tallaght University Hospital; and Clinical Lead, National Dementia Services are joined by an expert panel to talk about our brain and the things we can do to look after it.

 Go to the HSE Health and Wellbeing Website & our Ezine for more, listen to our Podcast, follow on Twitter, subscribe free on YouTube & join our Mailing List

HSE Health and Wellbeing Top Ten Tips for a Healthy 2024

Posted on by Cork CIL Admin

Ten Tips for a Healthy 2024: A Discussion with Dr Michelle Hardie-Murphy and Ashling Doherty on the HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast

For the first episode of 2024 on the HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast, we had the pleasure of discussing healthy resolutions for the New Year with Dr Michelle Hardie-Murphy and Aisling Doherty, both Senior HSE Health Promotion and Improvement Officers.

As we ushered in the New Year, we acknowledged that it is often seen as a time for renewal and reflection, with many people taking this period to make healthy resolutions. We delved into the importance of setting realistic goals, finding enjoyment in healthy behaviours, and the significance of celebrating small achievements.

Michelle emphasised that behaviour change requires capability, motivation, and opportunity. The HSE works closely with community partners to provide opportunities for healthy behaviours, such as physical activity and nutrition courses. Starting small and setting realistic goals is crucial. Aisling added that honesty and self-reflection are key to setting achievable goals.

We highlighted the importance of enjoyment and routine in sustaining healthy habits. Finding activities that bring joy and allow individuals to lose themselves in the moment, such as playing sports or going for a walk, can have a significant impact on mental health.

We also touched on the importance of incorporating healthy behaviours into daily routines and having the necessary equipment or ingredients readily available. Partnering up with someone or joining social groups can make the journey more enjoyable and increase accountability. Family members can play a role in holding each other accountable.

However, it is also important to be flexible and adapt to changes in circumstances or setbacks, without self-punishment. Setbacks are a normal part of life and can be expected. Some setbacks can be anticipated, such as holidays or busy work periods, and can be planned for in advance. We encourage listeners to be kind to themselves and not beat themselves up over setbacks. Instead, reflect on what can be learned from the setback and how to improve in the future.

Life happens, and it’s important to be kind to oneself and roll with the punches. Regular reflection and reassessment, considering what has worked well and what may need to be adjusted, are crucial to sustain healthy changes. Life happens, and it’s important to be kind to oneself and roll with the punches. Making healthy choices can be challenging, especially when there are external factors beyond our control, such as the availability of healthy eating options in our neighbourhoods. However, opportunities for behaviour change do exist and building on our knowledge and skills is important.

We discussed the many free resources available to help support your goals, such as the HSE’s Quit services, and how they support individuals through the process of quitting smoking. We also referenced the HSE’s Stress Control program, which will be available again in February, and other supports on www.yourmentalhealth.ie for those who may need it were also mentioned.

We discussed the importance of finding support and resources within one’s own community to promote and improve overall well-being. We encourage people to explore what is available locally to guide them towards healthier behaviours. Community supports and motivation are crucial in helping individuals make positive changes.

We emphasised the importance of tracking progress and celebrating small wins to stay motivated and on track with healthy behaviour changes. Tools like diaries, smartwatches, and pedometers can be useful, but visual reminders, such as a chart on the fridge, can also mark achievements. Celebrating achievements in ways that align with the desired behaviour change, such as going on a new walk or exploring nature, can have a positive impact on mood and mental well-being.

In conclusion, starting small and setting achievable goals is key. To listen to the full podcast, click here.

Remember, it’s not about perfection, but progress. Here’s to a healthier 2024!

 

HSE Health Ireland – End Of Year Message 2023

Posted on by Cork CIL Admin

DFI Newsletter December 2023 Update

Posted on by Cork CIL Admin