Health in Ireland, An Unequal State

The truth about health in Ireland- written by young people for young people.

Young people deserve to know the truth about how health gets damaged when society has large gaps between those who earn the most and the least.

Health in Ireland – An Unequal State (originally the work of the Public Health Alliance Ireland) is an overview of evidence on health inequality in Ireland. 5 students from the North West developed Health in Ireland – An Unequal State into a youth edition, which you can now download below.

What is the booklet about?

As well as informing young people about health inequalities in Ireland, the booklet includes information on what young people can do to help prevent health inequalities.

Download the ‘Health in Ireland – an unequal state’ youth document!

How can young people take action?

• Get involved in local activities that look out for older people.
• Ask for the chance to get involved in services that affect young people.
• Call for plans in your school or organisation to prevent and deal with homophobic bullying.
• Raise funds for agencies that support the homeless, like Focus Ireland or The Simon Community.
• Look after your own sexual health.
• Don’t be pressured into having sex just because everyone else is doing it (they are not!) – it’s your choice.
• Become involved in youth clubs.
• Lobby politicians to:
  
  -Make more facilities for drug treatment available.
  -Provide free counselling for young people in schools.
  -Have more sex education in schools that includes looking at the issues of homosexuality.
  -Put enough funding into housing and health programmes for Travellers.
  -Provide enough benefits and financial help for lone parents so they can cope with living expenses and other demands.
  
  (Find out more on how to lobby here)

Speaking at the launch one of the young writers, Aidan McLoughlin said:

“It was an education to discover how bad for your health inequality is. Would you believe the poorest people are 16 times more likely to die of alcohol abuse and 5 times more likely to die from suicide? There has to be something wrong with that picture.”

He went on to say: “The whole point of doing this is we are hoping other young people like ourselves will be shocked by the information in this booklet. Because then Ireland might begin to think seriously about closing the gaps’’

About The Public Health Alliance

The Public Health Alliance for the island of Ireland is an independent alliance whose mission is to work together for a healthier society by improving health and challenging health inequalities.  The Alliance brings together a range of individuals and organisations united in the specific aim of reducing health inequalities.  

See www.phaii.org for more information and to find out how you can get involved.

See more information on Equality.