Latest news with #FASD
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
FASD in Ireland – ‘We were in the silly scenario where some GPs were telling women it's safe to drink through pregnancy'
Despite one in ten babies born with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Ireland is one of the only developed countries in the world that does not recognise the condition as a disability Ireland remains the only developed country in the world to not recognised Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) as a disability, and not without lack of trying. Clare-based Tristan Casson-Rennie is the CEO and founder of FASD Ireland, a not-for-profit social enterprise founded in September of 2021.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
‘Over 10 years later, I still suffer from panic attacks' – people who were in child residential care tell of troubles they faced in system
He painted a sad picture of his chaotic early years in the care system at an event organised by the Children's Rights Alliance, attended by Children's Minister Norma Foley. When the system worked, it worked really well, he said, but when it failed, it could leave you feeling more defeated than before, he told the gathering of children's rights advocates yesterday. He 'absolutely hated' his first residential placement. It was a perfect picture of 'children should be seen and not heard'. He felt like a case file or a problem to be solved, rather than a child. He was suffering from severe mental health difficulties due to trauma early in life. 'I was given no privacy, no autonomy and no real voice in my care,' he said. 'Decisions about my life were never mine to be involved in. I didn't have access to any real meaningful mental health support.' They were told the only way to stop my panic attacks was to ignore them He said he was made to feel ashamed if he ended up in hospital. 'I remember when they were told that the only way to stop my panic attacks was to ignore them,' he said. 'No one stood up and said that doesn't sound quite right. Instead, if I dared to have a panic attack, staff were instructed to completely ignore me for up to an hour. 'Over 10 years later, and I still suffer from panic attacks.' The next home was the opposite. His room had art supplies and teddies and staff paid attention to the things that made life worth living for him. He started to act his age and felt less institutionalised. 'I finally felt heard, seen and safe,' he said. 'I was never made to feel like I was seen as a case file. I was seen as Kai.' As an early school-leaver, he felt he would never see the walls of a college, but last week he got a first-class honours in his social care degree. He called for the voices of children in care to be heard when reforms to the system are considered and more support for young people after they reach 18. 'At times my mental health had to be in crisis before anyone listened or acted, a failure that not only nearly cost me my life, but took my best friend from me at age 16, a loss and pain too well known within this community,' he said. There is a need for up to 300 social workers to respond to increasing demand Andrea Reilly, who suffers from foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), said she found it a challenge to access services and support while in foster care. She felt support was crisis-led. 'Unless the shit really hits the fan, you're not going to get the support needed as quick as other people,' she said. Kate Duggan, CEO of Tusla, said there is a need for up to 300 social workers to respond to increasing demand, and an extra 200 beds in residential care. Due to staffing challenges, a social worker apprenticeship scheme is in place, which she described as a 'gamechanger'. However, it will take up to three years to see the outcome on the ground. The Children's Rights Alliance is calling for an additional €50m in Budget 2026 to provide investment in core child protection and welfare services. Ms Foley said a new framework for alternative care to support children and young people will be complete by the summer of 2026.
The Guardian
19-06-2025
- The Guardian
Guardian Australia's In the Box investigation wins award at Walkley Foundation's Mid-Year Media Prizes
A groundbreaking Guardian Australia investigation into incarcerated teenagers born with severe intellectual disabilities has been awarded the Media Diversity Australia prize at the Walkley Foundation's Mid-Year Media Prizes. In the box: how children with FASD end up in police cells, by Queensland correspondent Ben Smee and medical editor Melissa Davey, uncovered the stories of children who, branded repeat offenders, spend their days locked in adult watch houses despite living with the effects of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The series of three articles, published in July last year, was recognised by the judges at Thursday evening's awards ceremony in Sydney. Guardian Australia was also a finalist in the young Australian journalist of the year's coverage of community and regional affairs and innovative storytelling categories, and the Our Watch award for excellence in reporting on violence against women. The ABC journalist April McLennan was announced as the John B Fairfax Family young journalist of the year, with her coverage of unwanted medical intervention in childbirth and the accusations against former Launceston mayor Danny Gibson singled out by the Walkley judging board. She won the public service journalism and coverage of community and regional affairs prizes in the young journalist category for her reporting in Launceston. Freelance journalist of the year prize went to Prue Lewarne for her coverage of Latin America for SBS, and the women's leadership in media award was won by SBS's Calliste Weitenberg. The awards are held separately from November's Walkley awards for excellence in journalism. The Walkley Foundation chief executive, Shona Martyn, said the 'judges remarked on the high quality of entries across the categories, an encouraging reminder that Australia's best journalism is of the highest standard.'
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
No Pregnancy Warning Labels On Alcohol
Press Release – Alcohol Healthwatch The report has some worrying findings, chief among them that over a third of alcohol products still do not have the correct pregnancy warning label. Just under half (44%) of the 400+ products audited either had no label, or had the label hidden on the … – 34% of alcohol products have no pregnancy warning label, shows new report. – 16% of alcohol products with the correct label have it hidden on the bottom of the packaging where it is less likely to be seen. Every baby deserves the best possible start in life. But new report by Alcohol Healthwatch of New Zealand's first audit of pregnancy warning labels on alcohol products, suggests that the low presence of correct labelling might be undermining this. The report has some worrying findings, chief among them that over a third of alcohol products still do not have the correct pregnancy warning label. Just under half (44%) of the 400+ products audited either had no label, or had the label hidden on the bottom of the packaging. The Government-mandated pregnancy warning label became compulsory from August 2023, following over twenty-years of advocacy by public health professionals and communities. Pregnancy warning labels are an important tool to share the information that no amount of alcohol is safe to consume when pregnant. Exposure of alcohol in-utero can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a lifelong disability characterised by cognitive, emotional, and functional deficits. FASD comprises over half of the estimated $9.1 billion dollars in alcohol harm felt in New Zealand annually. 'Communities have been fighting for a pregnancy warning label for twenty years,' says Sarah Sneyd, lead study author and Senior Health Promotion Advisor at Alcohol Healthwatch. 'People tell us all the time that if they pick up a bottle of wine, they expect that it will have the pregnancy warning label on it. But what we've found is that even a year after being mandatory, there's a good chance it won't have the message.' Spirits was the least likely to have the pregnancy warning label on it, with only 48% of spirits audited showing the warning label. This is likely due to its longer shelf life, as the law only states that alcohol manufactured from 31 July 2023 is required to have a warning label, not all alcohol sold. Wine was the next least likely to show the label, with only 57% showing the warning label. 'Spirits are some of the strongest alcohol you can buy, and wine is very popular among women,' says Sneyd. 'And they're the least likely to show a pregnancy warning label! It's just not good enough – this is a massive loophole that needs to be closed.' There is no requirement for any other health or warning label on alcohol products, such as the fact that it causes cancer. Furthermore, unlike almost every other consumable food or drink item, alcohol products (apart from RTDs) do not have to provide an ingredient list. Like Big Tobacco tactics, Big Alcohol has an incentive to delay or sidestep labelling requirements for as long as possible, to protect profit margins at the expense of health. However, the audit revealed much higher rates of industry-designed labels, with 78% of products having an industry-designed label, including urges to 'drink responsibly'. Often this messaging was located next to or near the pregnancy warning label, and may confuse viewers. This highlights the urgent need for a range of rotating health warnings to meet consumer rights for information. These labels must be prominent (i.e. not located at the bottom of packaging). Sneyd believes that in order for consumers to make informed decisions, they need the information. 'We're talking about preventing babies being born with brain damage; it goes without saying that this is an important message. If we can get communities the information they are entitled to, then we're one step closer towards every baby having the best possible start in life.'
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Race Across The World star's grieving family thank public for ‘overwhelming' support
The family of Sam Gardiner, a former contestant on Race Across The World, have expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of love and support they have received since his death. They also thanked the public for their generous donations to a fundraising campaign established in his memory. Gardiner, 24, who appeared on the BBC One series alongside his mother, Jo, tragically died in a car crash last month. In response, his family launched a JustGiving page to raise money for National FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). The campaign has already raised over £10,000, a testament to the impact Gardiner had on those around him His mother said: 'We have been overwhelmed by the tens of thousands of messages of love and support on social media and in comments to press reporting. 'We would like to thank the BBC, Studio Lambert and everyone at Race Across The World production, fellow contestants and fans of the show for all their support at this terrible time. It has been very comforting to know that Sam touched so many people. 'I have been particularly moved by all the messages that Sam was an inspiration to many who have been impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. 'We adopted Sam and he was diagnosed with FASD. As viewers of season two will recall, this was a big challenge both for Sam and for us as his parents. 'National FASD helped us on that journey. If some good comes of this tragedy, it will be that FASD is better understood.' Mr Gardiner was driving a white Volkswagen Golf R estate when it came off the road and rolled before landing on its side. The accident happened on the A34 in Gatley, near Cheadle, on Monday May 26 and he died on May 29 from his injuries, his family said last week. Broadcast in March 2020, Sam and Jo ventured across Mexico and Argentina as part of the second series of the BBC show. Mr Gardiner's father Andrew said: 'When the news broke last week, friends asked how they could help. 'After some thought, I decided to set up a JustGiving page to raise money for National FASD in memory of Sam. The page is called Sam Gardiner; Super Human. 'I set the target at £500 thinking a few friends might be generous enough to make a donation. So far it's raised 20 times that. It's very humbling to see the RATW family rally to this worthy cause.' The National Organisation for FASD says on its official website that it 'provides support to people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, their families and communities, campaigns to raise public awareness, and promotes relevant policies and practices'. The website also describes FASD as resulting 'when prenatal alcohol exposure affects the developing brain and body.. It says: 'FASD is a spectrum. Each person with FASD is affected differently. 'While more than 400 conditions can co-occur, FASD is at its core a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. All people with FASD have many strengths. Early diagnosis and appropriate support are essential, especially for executive functioning.' A message on the official National FASD Instagram account said: 'Sam lived his life full of love, exuberance and adventure as seen on BBC's Race Across the World. 'National FASD is both humbled and honoured to help carry on his legacy via donations coming from hundreds.' A private funeral will be held later this month.
