Cuts to services, fear of crime, and loneliness brought on by emigration of loved ones have led to a huge surge in calls to a helpline for the elderly, The Irish Examiner reported at the end of January. Senior Helpline is the country’s only listening service for older people. In 2013, the center received more than 28,500 calls. The 345 volunteers who run the organization saw … [Read more...] about Ireland’s Social, Cultural Environment Is Harmful to Mental Health
Health
Irish Scientists Discover Genetic Basis for Memory Formation
Scientists from Trinity College Dublin have shown for the first time that two genes involved in many neurological diseases act together to regulate specific aspects of protein production in nerve cells and allow the development of a simple form of memory called habituation. These findings have implications for our understanding of memory formation in general, and will also aid … [Read more...] about Irish Scientists Discover Genetic Basis for Memory Formation
When It Comes to Health, Kathleen Cares
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius (née Gilligan) on the future of American health care, her father’s influence, her Irish heritage, and other topics. "I’m a descendant of Irish immigrants. My great-grandmother worked as a maid in the home of William Howard Taft, before he became president. Decades later, the grandson of the president and my father, the … [Read more...] about When It Comes to Health, Kathleen Cares
The First Word: Sláinte! Good Health
“What’s exciting is that millions of families . . .will have access, some for the first time, to quality, affordable options in just a few months.” – Secretary of Health Kathleen Sebelius As the national debate on Obamacare takes center stage we thought it an opportune time to interview Secretary of Health Kathleen Sebelius, née Gilligan, and to focus on health issues … [Read more...] about The First Word: Sláinte! Good Health
“Rory’s Regulations” Will Fight Sepsis in New York Hospitals
New York has become the first state in the U.S. to mandate a series of protocols to diagnose and treat sepsis before it turns fatal. The protocols have been named “Rory’s Regulations” for 12-year-old Irish American Rory Staunton who died from an undiagnosed case of sepsis on April 1, 2012. Doctors failed to recognize that Rory was suffering from sepsis until it was too … [Read more...] about “Rory’s Regulations” Will Fight Sepsis in New York Hospitals