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Health and wellbeing

This section covers information about major health issues as well as advice on eating and keeping well. Select a topic to find out more.

Alcohol and substance abuse

If you're concerned about your own or someone else's drinking habits speak to your GP, who can refer you to a specialist working within community addiction teams in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. They can provide support and treatment for alcohol abuse.

Specialist service for over 55's

Addiction NI offers a specialist service for people aged 55 or over who are abusing alcohol or drugs. It also deals more generally with people who are concerned about alcohol or drugs. For more information on this specialist service contact Addiction NI on 028 9073 1602 or visit addictionni.com

Other support agencies

The Eastern Drug and Alcohol Coordination Team (EDACT) has a directory of services that deal with substance misuse in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board area. To request a copy of the directory, call EDACT on 028 9043 4248 or visit www.edact.org

Alzheimer's and dementia

Alzheimer's Society

Alzheimer's Society supports people who have Alzheimer's or dementia including their carers, family and friends.

The Belfast branch of the Alzheimer's Society offers an outreach service where advisors can visit you in your home to give advice and support. Their befriending scheme provides one-to-one support to people with dementia and their telephone helpline service allows you to talk to trained advisors who can offer you advice on a wide range of topics.

Alzheimer's Society also runs information and education programmes for carers, friends and relatives. For more information on the services offered by Alzheimer's Society, ring their helpline on 028 9066 4100 or visit www.alzheimers.org.uk

Community Mental Health Team

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust provide a Community Mental Health Team for older people. They offer assessment, education, advice and support to people who are experiencing, or have concerns about, Early Stage Dementia. You can make referrals to the team yourself or through your GP or psychiatrist. To request further information contact the Community Mental Health Team (older people) on 028 9056 4961.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are important to fight serious bacterial infections such as kidney infections and pneumonia. But they don't cure viral infections such as the common cold and flu. Most sore throats are caused by viral infections.

Only take antibiotics when you really need them because the more antibiotics you take the less effective they become at fighting more serious infections. You can get more information about antibiotics from your GP or pharmacist.

Arthritis

Arthritis Care

Arthritis Care acts on behalf of people who are affected by arthritis. They offer information on arthritis, campaigning, self management courses to help people cope with arthritis, family and youth work and events. They also support volunteers who help with sharing information, campaigning, fund raising, and events.

For more information on services available through Arthritis Care or to become a volunteer, contact their free helpline on 0808 800 4050 or their Belfast office 028 9078 2940 or visit www.arthritiscare.org.uk

Arthritis Research UK

Arthritis Research UK provides information to the general public on arthritis. They are also involved in research into the cause and treatment of arthritis and have published over 90 regularly revised booklets and information sheets about arthritis.

For a free copy of the booklets and to receive the full list of publications or leaflets available, contact Arthritis Research UK on 0870 850 5000 or visit www.arthritisresearchuk.org

Befriending services

Volunteer Now

Volunteer Now provides information and guidance to organisations wanting to set up a volunteer befriending scheme as well as organisations that are currently delivering volunteer befriending services. For more information on Volunteer Now's Befriending services, telephone 028 9020 0850 or visit www.volunteernow.co.uk

Alzheimer's Society befriending service

Alzheimer's Society has a befriending service for people with dementia. For more information, visit www.alzheimers.org.uk

Praxis

Praxis Care runs a volunteer befriending scheme which offers friendship and support to people who have become isolated because of mental ill-health as well as individuals with a learning disability or acquired brain injury.

If you need further information or are interested in volunteering as a befriender, you can get an application form from the Belfast office. Telephone 028 9031 0819 or visit www.praxisprovides.com

BCM (Belfast Central Mission) befriending scheme


BCM runs a befriending scheme which aims to provide companionship and practical support to lonely and isolated older people in the community. For information on the befriending service or volunteering to work as a befriender, contact the community services manager within BCM on 028 9024 1917 or visit www.belfastcentralmission.org

Telephone support services

A number of organisations in the Belfast area run Good Morning Projects. A Good Morning Project is a free and confidential telephone service for older people and people feeling vulnerable.

Orchardville CLASP Programme


The Orchardville Society supports people with learning disabilities in the community. CLASP is their Community Living and Support Programme for adults with learning disability in South and East Belfast. For more information on the CLASP programme contact Orchardville on 028 9073 2326.

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Bereavement

Cruse Bereavement Care

Cruse Bereavement Care promotes the wellbeing of bereaved people and helps anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. For more information, phone Cruse on 028 9043 4600 or visit www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk

Caring for someone who is dying

When a person is dying, care is provided through a range of professionals and from a variety of organisations, who work closely together to co-ordinate services to make sure the needs of the person and carers are met. There are a number of other organisations that can provide support and assistance at this difficult time.

Cancer

Reducing your risk of cancer

There are some simple steps that you can try to reduce your risk of developing cancer. Eating more fruit, vegetables and cereals, eating less fat and processed foods, cutting back on alcohol, stopping smoking, taking care in the sun and becoming more physically active, will all help to reduce your risk of developing cancer.

Accessing benefits

If you do develop cancer there are special rules for people with a terminal illness to help you get disability related benefits quickly. For more information contact your local benefits or social security office.

Skin cancer

In Northern Ireland over 2,600 people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. Most skin cancers are linked to excessive exposure to sunlight. For further information and advice contact the Ulster Cancer Foundation on 028 9066 3281.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in Northern Ireland. It can develop any time but is more common in women over 50.

Women aged 50 to 64 are invited for regular breast screening. If you are aged over 65 however you can still make an appointment through your local screening centre or GP. In the Belfast area, the screening centre is located at 12-22 Linenhall Street, Belfast, telephone 028 9033 3700 or visit the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety website

Screening is free of charge and picks up one third of breast cancers here every year. You should check your breasts for lumps every month and visit your GP immediately if you notice any changes in your breasts.

Cervical cancer

Between the ages of 20 to 65 it's recommended that you have a cervical smear test at least once every five years. Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It's a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer. However, regardless of age, if you have any bleeding after having sex or after the menopause or if you have any abnormal vaginal discharge you should discuss this with your doctor. For further information telephone 028 9055 3949 or visit the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety website

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. You can get more information about prostate cancer from the Ulster Cancer Foundation To receive speak to a cancer information nurse phone 0800 783 3339.

Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer found in men aged 15 to 45. You should check yourself monthly to look for lumps. It's unusual to develop cancer in both testicles at the same time so you can often compare one testicle with the other to see if it is abnormal. If you detect a lump or any of the symptoms above contact your GP immediately.

You can get more information on testicular cancer leaflet from the Ulster Cancer Foundation. To speak to a cancer information nurse, phone 0800 783 3339.

Bowel cancer

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is cancer of the large bowel (colon) and the rectum (back passage). If you notice any changes in your normal bowel habits that last for more than six weeks you should visit your doctor.

For more information or to speak to a cancer information nurse, phone 0800 783 3339 or visit www.ulstercancer.org

Coping with cancer: services available

Ulster Cancer Foundation support groups

The Ulster Cancer Foundation runs a number of support groups throughout Northern Ireland for people suffering from the following cancers: breast, laryngeal, lymphoma, myeloma, and prostate. All groups are facilitated by a nurse counsellor and are open to patients, relatives and friends.

For more information contact the care services co-ordinator at the Ulster Cancer Foundation on 028 9066 3281 or visit www.ulstercancer.org

Action Cancer

Action Cancer offers early detection and support services to people who have or have been affected by cancer, including relatives and carers. Their services include a mobile resource centre, information for men, complementary therapy, health promotion and counselling listening ear service (LES).

If you're interested in any of the above services, contact Action Cancer on 028 9080 3344 or visit www.actioncancer.org

Macmillan

Macmillan Cancer Support provides practical, medical, emotional and financial support for people who have cancer including their carers. They can also give you advice on benefits and can help you fill in forms such as Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance.

For people living in Belfast the main centre is based at Belfast City Hospital. To obtain the services of a Macmillan nurse, you must be referred by your GP, your hospital consultant, a district nurse or a hospital ward sister. Don't hesitate to ask them if there are Macmillan nurses available in your area. For more information visit the Macmillan Cancer Support website

Marie Curie Cancer Care

Marie Curie Cancer Care provides specialist support to people with cancer and other illnesses at no cost to individuals or their families.

Marie Curie also runs hospices which offer a range of services including day services, in-patient care and respite care. In Belfast, the Marie Curie hospice is located on Kensington Road in East Belfast. This hospice has an 18 bed in-patient unit.

For more information and advice, you can phone one of Marie Curie's trained advisers on 0800 634 4520 (freephone) 7 days a week, 9am to 10.30pm or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk

Northern Ireland Hospice Care

Northern Ireland Hospice Care provides specialist palliative care for adults and children with life limiting and life threatening illnesses.

Northern Ireland Hospice Care provides a full range of services both in the adult hospice and at home. There is no charge for Northern Ireland Hospice Care services. Referrals are made via the patient's GP using a Northern Ireland Hospice Care referral form which is available on request by telephoning 028 9078 1836.

Health and wellbeing fact sheet

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Download the health and wellbeing fact sheet (Word - 183KB)