Blog List

The latest Growing Up in Ireland report has recommended greater support for parents suffering with depression or stress. The report, based on the study of 11,000 children from the age of nine months since 2006, also found a need for more help for women at risk of giving birth to premature or low birth-weight babies. “Even from a very young age, the sensitivity that parents show when interacting...

Health campaigners are criticising Simon Cowell for smoking around his pregnant girlfriend. The X Factor judge was pictured lighting up in the back of a car while sitting next to Lauren Silverman, who is due to give birth in February. It’s not the first time Cowell has been snapped around his girlfriend with a cigarette in his hand. The couple were pictured out for dinner last month and also...

The head of the Jack and Jill Foundation says all terminally ill children should be given medical cards. The call comes after the government announced free GP care for all children under the age of five. Jonathan Irwin said the system was “thoughtless and cold” and is asking the Taoiseach to “order a review of the HSE’s broken medical card system, before any Free GP cards for under-5s are...

Mums understand just how hard it can be to give their kids medicine when they are ill. Most children refuse to take it unless it is brightly coloured or has a certain flavour but a recent survey found that these bright colours contain additives that are linked to hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder. Under EU law synthetic colourings are banned from food and drinks targeted at children...

Research by the Irish Cancer Society has found children are attracted to colourful cigarette packaging. The study of third class pupils in a Dublin school showed children found the packs appealing and were positive about “the bright colours and rainbow-coloured effects used” as well as the “fancy writing”. Approximately 80% of smokers start before the age of 18 and children in Ireland...

A 30-minute walk five times a week could prevent depression during your pregnancy. A new study from University College Dublin has found that only 20% of women achieve the recommended walks during pregnancy and these mums-to-be reported better health and emotional wellbeing. There is a significant trend of depression both during and after pregnancy, which has been linked to hormonal changes caused...

Late or irregular bedtimes has been found to cause problems for children. The study, which excluded children with ADHD, Asperger syndrome and autism, found kids with late or irregular bedtimes displayed hyperactivity, behavioural problems, emotional difficulties and problems with peers as they got older. However, the research conducted at University College London also found that children who...

A number of Irish primary schools have been reaping the rewards of meditation time for students. Children are using it in the school yard during moments of conflict and other pupils say it has helped them ward off nervousness during exams. Teachers have noted the improvement in children’s concentration and say it has worked as an anger-management strategy. One principal even said meditation...

New research has found one in ten mothers suffer from depression during pregnancy. It was previously thought that pregnancy hormones helped protect against this, but hormonal changes during pregnancy can actually contribute to the development of depression. There are now calls for more to be done to identify and treat the illness in pregnant women, following evidence that shows mental and...

There were mixed reactions to the appearance of a topless woman on ITV last week as part of a breast check demonstration. Early morning breakfast show Lorraine featured a topless model who was guided through a self-check examination by Dr Hilary Jones. The model demonstrated the correct hand movements and pressure applications necessary to detect potentially cancerous lumps in the breasts and...