health and wellbeing

• Health and wellbeing


  A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease
• Wellbeing


  When people are physically and mentally healthy and have a sense of purpose and belonging
• In order to be physically healthy, you should

  • Take precautions against illness
  • Eat a balanced diet
  • Get enough sleep
  • Take regular exercise
  • Take time for leisure and relaxation
  • Have a good personal hygiene regime
  • Avoid health hazards
• Immunisation


  A process that makes people or animals immune (resistant) to infection
• Sleep


  During sleep, the body works to support healthy brain function and maintain physical health. In children and teenagers, sleep also helps to support growth and development.
• Tips for a good night's sleep

  • Stop using electronic devices such as phones at least an hour before sleeping
  • Go to bed and get up at the same time each day, even at weekends
  • Avoid caffeinated drinks such as Coca-Cola before bedtime
  • A bedroom should be cool (16–18 °C) and dark
  • Invest in a good-quality mattress and pillow with good back and neck support
• The benefits of regular exercise

  • Reduces stress and helps keep the brain healthy and active
  • Keeps heart and lungs healthy
  • Keeps weight down as it burns excess calories
  • Maintains good muscle tone and bone density
  • Increases confidence and gives a sense of belonging when done as part of a team
• Mental health


  Health and wellbeing of the mind
• Leisure and relaxation


  Time spent away from work or study, when you can choose to do the activities, you most enjoy with friends, family or on your own
• Benefits of leisure and relaxation

  • Reduce stress and anxiety
  • Keep the brain active and prevents boredom
  • Develop new skills and interests
  • Give you the opportunity to meet new people
  • Can improve fitness, if doing sports or other physical activities
  • Boost confidence and self-esteem
• Good personal hygiene


  Keeping your body, teeth, hair and clothes clean and tidy. Good personal hygiene is vital for you to feel comfortable and confident and to be socially accepted.
• People who have good mental health

  • Find enjoyment in their everyday life
  • Have good self-esteem, i.e. belief in their own qualities and abilities
  • Are able to cope with normal daily stresses
  • Enjoy socialising with other people
  • Are aware of their own thoughts and feelings
  • Are free from mental illnesses, such as depression
• Guidelines for promoting good mental health and wellbeing


  1. Look after your physical health by having a healthy diet and taking regular exercise

  2. Avoid unhealthy habits, such as excessive alcohol use, smoking or using other drugs

  3. Form a few close friendships with people you can trust. Do not neglect these friendships

  4. Discuss problems and feelings with a family member, a teacher or a trusted friend

  5. Have a good routine, including regular sleep and meal patterns

  6. Think positively about yourself and your abilities

  7. Be kind and thoughtful to others
• Social health


  Being able to maintain happy relationships and friendships
• Guidelines for good personal hygiene

  • Wash hands frequently in warm soapy water, particularly after using the toilet and before meals, to prevent the spread of infection
  • Shower or bathe each day, particularly after exercise, using friction (rubbing), warm water and soap or gel to properly clean skin and prevent body odour
  • Wash hair at least once a week, and more often if it tends to be greasy
  • Change underwear and socks and use a deodorant and antiperspirant daily to prevent body odour
  • Brush teeth morning and night and if possible after meals to prevent the build-up of plaque
  • Change sanitary towels or tampons frequently to prevent leakage and body odour
• Guidelines for promoting good social health and wellbeing

  1. Involve yourself in activities that encourage you to mix with others, e.g. joining your local youth club

  2. Limit the amount of time you spend interacting with others on social media, as social media can cause feelings of isolation and not feeling good about yourself
• Ways to prevent skin damage from the sun

  • Avoiding too much sun, especially around midday, when it is most intense
  • Wearing a hat and sunglasses
  • Wearing a high SPF sun cream every day and never using sunbeds
  • Covering your skin, particularly if you have moles or birthmarks
• Stress


  When we experience mental or emotional strain due to difficulties or challenges in our lives
• Good oral hygiene


  Keeping your teeth and gums clean, healthy and strong
• Structure of the teeth

  • Adults have 32 permanent teeth embedded in the gums and jaw bone
  • The crown is the part of the tooth visible above the gum line
  • The root is the part of the tooth embedded in the gum and jawbone
• Components of each tooth

  • Enamel, which is a hard substance that protects the rest of the tooth
  • Dentine, which lies directly under the enamel and is not as hard as enamel
  • Pulp cavity, which is the centre of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels that keep the tooth alive
  • The cementum, which attaches the tooth to the bone, holding the tooth in place
• Causes of stress in modern society for teenagers

  • Pressure of school-work and examinations
  • Bullying
  • Breakdown of friendships and relationships
  • Financial worries
  • Family problems, e.g. alcohol abuse by parents
• Plaque


  A mixture of saliva, food particles and bacteria
• If you do not look after your teeth, plaque will build up on them

  The bacteria in plaque multiply on sugar in food and produce acid. This acid attacks enamel, eventually wearing a hole or cavity in it.
• Guidelines for coping with stress

  1. Get rid of the cause of stress, e.g. if a student is being bullied they should report what is happening so that it is dealt with and stopped

  2. Do something to relieve the symptoms of stress, e.g. go for a walk

  3. Eat well, take physical exercise, take time to relax and get enough sleep

  4. Talk over problems with someone you trust, e.g. a friend, parent or teacher
• Plaque causes infection and gingivitis (gum disease). Bacteria can enter the bloodstream, causing illness.
• Positive impact of social media

  People can use social media for entertainment, to stay in touch with friends and to find out information
• Negative impact of social media

  • People can spend excessive amounts of time on social media, neglecting other aspects of their lives, e.g. schoolwork or family time
  • Personal information and images posted on social media can be reposted, even when posted as 'private'. This information can be accessed by future potential employers
  • Social media often portrays a false image of the world, e.g. how people look. This can make people feel unhappy with their own lives
  • Social media can be used to carry out bullying
• Cyberbullying is when the internet is used to carry out bullying
• Examples of cyberbullying


  • Sending abusive messages
  • Making offensive comments on videos or posts
  • Spreading rumours online
  • Posting offensive images
  • Hacking into people's online accounts
• Caring for your teeth and gums

  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day using a good-quality toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to prevent the growth of acid-producing bacteria
  • Use dental floss or dental sticks to remove food particles from between your teeth
  • Visit your dentist twice a year for a check-up
  • Limit sugary foods and drinks, as the bacteria in plaque multiply easily on these foods
  • Eat foods rich in calcium and vitamin D (e.g. milk, cheese and yoghurt) to keep your teeth strong and healthy
• Government responses to smoking

  • Cigarettes and tobacco are heavily taxed, which makes them very expensive
  • Smoking is banned in public places
  • It is illegal to sell cigarettes to under 18s
  • The packaging on cigarettes must be plain with no logos. It must carry health warnings and graphic images of the effects of smoking
  • Quit.ie is a government-sponsored website that gives support to people wishing to quit smoking
• Remember a tooth will be very decayed before it aches, so visit your dentist twice a year for a check-up. The dentist will identify any problems early.
• Guidelines for staying safe online

  1. Think of everything you post as public, as even private messages can be reposted

  2. Be polite: never say anything online that you would not say face-to-face

  3. Choose your friends on social media carefully

  4. If someone makes a hurtful comment to or about you online, do not reply

  5. If you feel that someone is cyberbullying you, screenshot their messages and tell a trusted adult, e.g. a parent, guardian or teacher
• Health hazards - Alcohol abuse

  • When consumed excessively, alcohol causes health issues and problems in home and working lives
  • Problems with alcohol abuse often begin in the teenage years
  • Some teenagers engage in binge drinking – drinking excessive amounts of alcohol quickly in order to get drunk
• Effects of alcohol abuse

  Effects of alcohol abuse
• Government responses to alcohol abuse

  • Alcohol is heavily taxed, which makes it very expensive
  • Drink driving limits have been reduced. Penalties for drink driving have been increased
  • Government-sponsored Drinkaware advertisements on TV and radio encourage people to drink responsibly
  • It is illegal to sell alcohol to under 18s
  • The HSE runs a number of alcohol treatment centres
• Voluntary organisations


  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an organisation that helps people who have problems with alcohol
  • Al-Anon offers support to the family and friends of people who have problems with alcohol
  • Alateen offers support to the teenage children of people who have problems with alcohol
  • RISE (Recovery In a Safe Environment) is a charity that supports and educates families living with addiction
• Illegal drugs


  • Many drugs are useful for treating infections and illness
  • However, illegal drugs and the illegal use of prescription drugs are extremely harmful and cause problems for individuals, their families and society as a whole
  • A drug is any substance other than food that has an effect on the way the body functions
• Government responses to illegal drug use

  • Being caught in possession of illegal drugs is punishable by law
  • The HSE drugs and alcohol helpline (1800 459 459) offers advice and assistance for individuals and families affected by drug use
  • The HSE runs a number of drug treatment centres for people trying to stop using illegal drugs
  • Methadone and needle exchange programmes exist to help reduce the harm done to people addicted to heroin