WAYS for men to cope with depression is the topic for a public lecture this Wednesday hosted by the support organisation AWARE. The lecture takes place in St Patrick's Hospital at 7.15 pm. and is chaired by Mr David Lyons. A four man panel will describe their personal experiences of depression to the audience and discuss how depressive illness, panic attacks and anxiety first manifested themselves. The audience will hear how the four men coped and what their lives are like now.
THE Irish Cancer Society is now operating two freephone services in association with other support groups. The Colostomy Care Group opens its freephone service on the third Wednesday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hodgkins United Group runs its freephone service the fourth Wednesday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both services are part of the Irish Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery service on Freephone 1800 200 700. Support groups for cancer specifically can be reached through the Irish Cancer Society Monday to Friday by calling 6681855.
PARENTS experiencing anguish as their children prepare to go back to school may wish to pick up a copy of "Back to School - A Parent's Guide", a free booklet compiled by Barnardos National Children's Resource Centre and produced by Marks and Spencer Ireland.
The guide, available in Marks and Spencer stores in Dublin and Cork, has information on road safety, homework, teacher/parent relations and nutrition.
The booklet is available (from Barnardos when you send an SAE to Back to School - A Parent's Guide, National Children's Resource Centre, Barnardos, Christchurch, Dublin 8.
A two year diploma course in Applied Western Sciences is, being offered by the Irish Association of Traditional Chinese Medicines.
It is now important for alternative practitioners to have a recognised qualification as it can be difficult to join a professional register anywhere in Britain or Ireland without one.
The lecturers are practitioners in a number of alternative medical disciplines, they are also educated in orthodox medicine. The course starts in September and information is available from the course co ordinator Amanda Hughes, 22 Albert Place East, Dublin 2.
PEOPLE with knee injuries will have been following the story of former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies and the injury she sustained during the television programme Gladiators. A new knee brace, made by a company called Technology in Motion, has helped Sharron Davies become fully mobile again. The brace is now available in Ireland. Those with knee injuries should contact Dave Allen, who represents a company called IDS based at Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital. Finglas, Dublin 11.