Ireland's first Irish Women's Health Directory has just been launched. The directory contains details on 27 support groups and aims to provide information on diseases that become prevalent in women's later life: osteoporosis, coronary heart disease, cancer, depression and Alzheimer's disease. The need for a directory on women's health was identified by health professionals at the "Irish Women - Living Longer" conference, which was held in Dublin last year. It was felt that Irish women's awareness of their health risks is low and that they underestimate the impact of the menopause on their health. The directory, sponsored by an educational grant from Eli Lilly, is available by sending a stamped, (45p) self-addressed envelope to: Lilly Women's Health Bureau, "Casita", Saval Park Crescent, Dalkey, Co Dublin.
The Arthritis Foundation of Ireland is asking people to kick off their shoes and lace up their runners on "National Runner Day", a new fund-raising initiative which hopes to raise £100,000 to help the 500,000 sufferers of the condition which includes 5,000 children. Schools, colleges and businesses have been invited to wear runners on Friday and each participant will donate £1 to the foundation. Further information from 01-6618188 tel; 01-6618261 (fax).
The Irish National Eating Disorder Association is holding a support group meeting for family and friends of people suffering from eating disorders on Thursday in the Henry Grattan Building, DCU, Glasnevin, Dublin at 8 p.m. All are welcome. Further information 01-4753599.
Vergemount AA group is hosting an open information meeting on alcoholism on Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. in the Vergemount Hospital, Clonskeagh, Dublin. Speakers from Al-Anon, Al- Ateen, AA and the medical profession will attend. All are welcome, light refreshments will be provided and parking is available. Free admission.
The Waterford and SouthEast Branch of the Samaritans will hold its annual Samaritan Proms in the Forum, Waterford on Friday at 8 p.m. The evening features Ronan Tynan and Deirdre Masterson, the Guinness Jazz Band and local groups. Tickets cost £7.50 p.m.; further information from Joan Crosbie, publicity officer, 051-872114.
Next Saturday the Irish Tinnitus Association will hold its spring meeting in the Great Southern Hotel, Eyre Square, Galway at noon. Mary Mitchell, hearing therapist from the Royal Victoria, Belfast will talk on "Tinnitus Management" and David Ryan of the Dublin Dental Hospital will talk on "TMJ and Tinnitus". Admission is £5. Further information from the association at 35 North Frederick Street, Dublin 1, 01-8723800 (tel); 01- 8723816. (fax)
"Hurry, worry and curry" are not, contrary to popular belief, the cause of ulcers; instead the real culprit is often the germ or bug called Helicobacter pylori. This is just one piece of information that is contained in Under- standing Ulcers, a new information leaflet published this week by Astra Pharmaceuticals and Abbott Laboratories. It is available free of charge through doctors and pharmacies and from a leaflet hotline 01-6789762, which will be in operation until the end of June.
Process Oriented Psychology Ireland will present a two-day training seminar with Drs Arnold and Amy Mindell on Sunday and Monday, May 10th and 11th, in Trinity College, Dublin. The workshops will explore "Worldwork", an approach to community building and conflict resolution which acknowledges that people themselves are part of every conflict around them and that self-knowledge is part of the resolution process.
The fee for the seminar is £125 and it runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day with registration at 9 a.m. Further information from Brid Commins 0- 8251629, e-mail: commins@indigo.ie