Flu Mythbusting

 

Flu season is nearly upon us and the best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated before the end of November.

Vaccines are one of the greatest public health innovations in recent history and no other medical intervention has done more to save lives. The flu vaccine has been proved to reduce the number of deaths and hospital admissions. Studies have shown that the flu jab does work and will help prevent you getting the flu.

It’s not difficult to get a flu jab you can even get one while you’re doing your weekly shop in a supermarket so why are we all so reluctant?   Read on to find out the answers

Celebrating Leeds Older Peoples’ Day

The 1st of October is Older People’s Day which also coincides with the UN International Day of Older Persons.

Here in Leeds, we want to be an Age Friendly city and as part of that we support Older People’s Day which challenges negative attitudes and outdated stereotypes and focuses on celebrating the achievements and contributions that older people make to our society and the economy.

This year there are a number of different events based on the theme: ‘Trailblazers’ which will take place throughout Leeds between 29th September and 7th October.

They are all for older people, some aimed at the general public, others are only for members of the host organisation.

The events listed below are open to the public. If you wish to go along to observe or to take part in events which are open to the public please contact the host in advance, their contact details are listed along with the events details.  

Leeds Community builders – yes, we can!

You may have heard of asset-based community development (ABCD) which identifies the existing skills, talents and capacities of people and their communities to encourage change and development from within; the community’s strengths instead of its needs. The assumption is that, given the tools and the opportunity, small groups of local residents can change the things that they believe need changing in their community better than anyone else.

But how do you do that?   What you need is a community builder, someone who can plant seeds at a neighbourhood level, who shares stories about people who do amazing things and creates a positive environment so that people can come together and form strong, cohesive and resilient communities.

Enter Teresa Milligan who works as a community builder in New Wortley, Leeds.  

Grant launch evidence of Leeds commitment to suicide prevention

On World Suicide Prevention Day, Leeds was home to a range of activity as many in the city played their part raising the profile of suicide prevention, mental health stigma and the range of work delivered by organisations across the city to reduce suicide. One event was at St Georges Centre in the heart of Leeds.

Leeds Care Record – working together to improve your care

Leeds Care Record is a joined-up digital care record which enables clinical and care staff to view real-time health and care information across care providers and between different systems. It is a secure computer system that brings together certain important information about patients who have used services provided by their GP, at a local hospital, community healthcare, social services or mental health teams.

Julia Millman, Programme Manager, Leeds Care Record tells us more about what it’s like working on the programme and why she is so passionate about it.

Leeds – one of the best cities for health and wellbeing – hosts King’s Fund conference

As Leeds is rated as one of the best cities for health and wellbeing, it was the obvious choice to host a major conference looking at how healthy populations can be sustained in a world where for the first time ever, most people now live in cities.

Money on your mind – the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute visit Leeds

People experiencing mental health problems find it much harder to choose, use and pay for essential services like water, broadband, energy and financial products and as a result  are three times more likely to be in problem debt.

Just one of the facts revealed last month, by Katie Evans, Head of Research and Policy from the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) during a one-day visit hosted by Leeds City Council’s Public Health team.   The Institute was set up just over 2 years ago by Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert.com fame.

Katie delivered a lunchtime seminar with Taira Kayani from Better Leeds Communities and Joe Kent from BARCA-Leeds at the Public Health Resource Centre in Chapel Allerton. Katie met key stakeholders from the Council, advice sector, mental health providers, and frontline workers with an interest in debt and mental health.

So what other information was revealed?