Healthy Living Services

Many Irish people spend time planning their relocation to London and integrate seamlessly, leading full and healthy lives. Irish people are well represented on post graduate courses and in senior management positions in London.

However, the London Irish Centre recognises the difficulties associated with migration. For individual migrants, upheaval, loss and settlement can be causes of significant stress and has been found to impact on physical and mental health.

The London Irish Centre provides a range of advice services specifically aimed at reducing the initial stresses of migration, such as advice on housing, benefits and support sourcing employment.

We also deliver a range of activities which impact directly on some of the on-going health issues facing the Irish community in London.

Emotional Well-Being

Irish people in Britain have a high incidence of mental health problem –   well above the rates for other migrant groups. Common mental disorders, including anxiety, depression and phobias, are significantly more common among Irish men.

- Improved Access to Psychological Therapies

This is a psychological therapies service for residents of Camden and Islington.

If you are finding it difficult to cope with feelings of anxiety or depression, we can offer quick and easy access to help and support.

- Referrals to Counselling

The London Irish Centre has links with a range of mental health services in several London boroughs. We understand that making the first steps can be difficult. We can help you understand the process and make an appointment with a suitable service for you.

Contact 0207 916 2222 to make your appointment.

Alcohol Related Services
Research on alcohol consumption among Irish people shows a complex pattern of use, teetotalism and misuse, with misuse clearly linked to physical and mental ill-health.

- The Get Together Club

The primary goal of this service is to provide a safe, comfortable and dry environment for people who are struggling with their alcohol use.  This is not an AA meeting: you will not be asked to speak in front of a group or tell people personal details about your use of alcohol.

Sessions take place on Wednesdays 5.30-8.30 and Sundays 5.30-8.30

For more information contact the Day Centre Coordinator on 207 916 2222 daycentre@londonirishcentre.org

Social Inclusion

The age profile of the Irish community is an older one, with significant numbers in the pension and pre-pension age bands and fewer in younger groups. The community in London has a high percentage of single pensioners who face

Increasingly research shows us that more socially isolated people have poorer health.

Social inclusion is about being part of a community. It’s about belonging to a network of supportive relationships that are protective of good health and positive wellbeing.

Befriending

This services matches volunteers with isolated older Irish people in London. Our Volunteers generally call in for a cup of tea and a chat once or twice a week. This provides a supportive relationship for the older person.

Contact our Volunteer Coordinator on 0207 916 2222 if you would like someone to visit you or if you want to volunteer. volunteerorganiser@irishcentre.org

Sports and Physical Activities

Exercise is not only good for the body; it is good for the mind. People suffering from depression and/or anxiety in particular seem to respond well to exercise. Sports and psychical activities are a great way to relax, meet new people and learn new skills.

Allotments

During the summer and autumn months the London Irish Centre organises trips to allotment in Camden.

Gaelic Football
The London Irish Centre helps run weekly Gaelic football kick about in Finsbury Park. Come along, have a run and a kick about, and meet like-minded Gaelic fans. More importantly, get fit while having a laugh.

Rugby
We have strong links with Hackney Rugby Club. HRC is the fastest growing rugby club in east London. The club has a friendly atmosphere and a longstanding tradition of Irish involvement. Contact our Welfare Coordinator if you would like to be introduced or go to www.hackneyrfc.co.uk

Social Running Group
Two of our volunteers run a weekly running group. On Saturday mornings the group meet for a 5K jog followed by a rewarding brunch in Hampstead heath.

Educational Activities
Whatever age you are there is always room for improvement when it comes to learning new skills. Further education is a great way to learn about something you are interested in and meet new people. For the over fifties and upwards, the advantages of further education can make a significant difference in terms of health, and possible career options.

It is widely recognised that further education in later life can be a boost to both physical and mental health. Adult education classes are a great way to keep the mind active and to build up new social contacts.

- IT classes
- Art for Over 60’s
- Healthy Cooking classes

All the above classes run during term time in our Day Centre. For more information contact our Day Centre Coordinator on 0207 916 2222 or email Daycentre@londonirishcentre.org

Top Tips for Staying Healthy

There are a number of ways that you can help yourself to stay healthy. Even small changes can improve your health and cut your risk of illness. Here are our top tips:

Stopping smoking
Quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to cut the risk of developing cancer. Smoking is a significant risk factor for a wide range of cancers as well as being a direct cause of nine out of 10 cases of lung cancer. Quitting isn’t easy but with NHS support you are four times more likely to succeed. You can find out more about the risks associated with smoking and how you can get support by contacting ourSmokefree Camden helpline on 0800 107 0401 or 0800 131 3825 (Bengali Quitline) or email the team at stopsmoking@camdenpct.nhs.uk

Limit your alcohol intake
There is strong evidence which indicates that too much alcohol increases your risk of several cancers. It can also make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight. Department of Health guidelines advise that men should limit their intake to between three and four units of alcohol per day. Women should limit their intake to between two and three units. A unit of alcohol is equal to about half a pint of normal strength lager, cider or bitter, or 25ml of spirits. Do you know your limits?

For more information or advice on how you can reduce your alcohol intake please contact the Camden Sensible Drinking team

Eat a balanced diet
Making sure you eat a wide range of foods is another way of helping to keep your weight down, as well as making sure you get the nutrients you need. Try to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day and try to eat fresh produce rather than processed food. Avoid foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar. For more information or advice on eating a balanced diet go to the Eating Well page

Keep active
Taking regular exercise is essential to keeping your weight down. Exercise doesn’t have to be hard work or limited to the gym. Walking, swimming and even housework and gardening are all excellent forms of moderate activity. Try to aim for 30 minutes a day of exercise that leaves you slightly out of breath but still able to hold a conversation. As your fitness increases, you will find that you have to work harder to become out of breath and this in turn will increase your fitness level. How fit are you?

For more information or advice on being physically active go to the Keeping active page

Maintain a healthy weight
Being overweight can increase your risk of developing cancer, heart disease and strokes. If you are concerned about your weight, your GP should be able to provide you with information and support in finding a healthy weight for you. Click here to calculate your BMI

Look after your sexual health
Using condoms during sex will protect you from most sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Chlamydia and HIV. Condoms are available for free from family planning clinics and sexual health clinics. If you are concerned about your sexual health you can speak to your GP in confidence. A number of other local services offer confidential advice, information and screening for STIs.

For more information and advice about looking after your sexual health go to the sexual health page

Get screened
Bowel cancer screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage (in people with no symptoms), when treatment is more likely to be effective. Men and women aged between 60 and 69 are automatically sent a test kit to be completed at home, once every two years.

Breast screening is a method of detecting breast cancer at a very early stage. Women aged between 50 and 70 are automatically invited for a free breast x-ray (mammogram) every three years.

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It is a way of checking the health of a woman’s cervix (the neck of the womb) to prevent cervical cancer. Women aged between 25 and 49 are automatically invited for free cervical screening every three years. Those aged between 50 and 64 are invited every five years.

For information about screening services please go to screening services page

Manage your stress levels
There area number of ways we can keep mentally fit and reduce our vulnerability to mental illness, just as we can keep physically fit. Take the stress test.

For advice on how to manage stress speak to your GP. For information about the self-help options available in Camden please go to the mental health page

Stay safe in the sun
Most cases of skin cancer are caused by damage from UV (ultraviolet) rays in sunlight. Sun beds also emit UV rays that damage your skin. Taking care to cover up in the sun and not using sun beds can help you to cut your risk of developing cancer. For more information about staying safe in the sun please visit the NHS Choices website