The rate of stroke in younger people in Ireland is rising rapidly, with people of working age now accounting for more than one in four of some 8,000 stroke cases every year. If you have been affected by stroke at a younger age, our supports can help you live life to the fullest.
A helping hand: What is peer support?
Experiencing a heart diagnosis or stroke can feel isolating – it can be difficult to talk about how you feel or the symptoms you may be living with. This is where peer support comes in. Peer support involves bringing people with a similar lived experience together to share knowledge, offer support and create a safe and understanding environment in which you can recover or learn self-management skills.
Peer support can come in many different forms. It can be a formal experience delivered by trained staff in a healthcare setting, or it can be informal. It can be include face-to-face meetings, phone calls, online forums, patient groups or 1:1 support and take place on a weekly, monthly or ongoing basis.
More people are recognising the positive impact of peer support in improving a person’s experience and health outcomes. Peer support has been shown to empower people and allow them to find their voice when speaking about their experiences. It offers companionship and friendship, can boost confidence and self-esteem and reduce feelings of isolation. Most importantly, it gives people a sense of belonging and mutual understanding, and allows them to learn new skills and strategies that help with their recovery or help them manage their condition.
Peer support is at the heart of the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) and we have a variety of supports to empower, assist and connect people. If you’re feeling nervous about getting involved with peer support, a great place to start is our Let’s Talk telephone service.
It’s good to talk: Our Let’s Talk peer telephone service
Our Let’s Talk telephone service is all about connection. Made up of volunteers who have lived experience of a heart diagnosis or stroke or experience caring for someone living with cardiovascular disease, our Let’s Talk service offers you an understanding and friendly voice on the other end of the line.
Our volunteers have been trained and are fully supported by our Let’s Talk programme lead. For this service, we try to match people with similar experiences so both volunteers and members get benefit from their calls together.
From social chats to sharing experiences and connecting callers to other information and support services available through the IHF, our telephone service is a great way to speak with others who know and understand what it can be like to experience a heart event or stroke, or live with cardiovascular disease.
If you’d like to use our Let’s Talk telephone service, call our Nurse Support Line on 01 688 5001. They’ll be happy to refer you to the Let’s Talk team.
We’re always looking for volunteers who would like to share their experience and time with others. If you’re interested in getting involved, email IHFvolunteer@irishheart.ie or see our volunteering information.
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Having a stroke at any age can be devastating but having a stroke under the age of 65 brings its own set of unique challenges.
Why should I join the Irish Heart Foundation’s Young Stroke Survivor Network?
Being part of our Young Stroke Survivor Network gives you a chance to meet other young stroke survivors who have had a similar experience to you and understand the challenges a stroke can bring. Being able to meet and chat with others and learn from their knowledge and experience is something that so many of the group have found helpful. You will also have access to information and resources that you can use to help improve your quality of life after a stroke.
What exactly will I get from the Young Stroke Survivor Network?
Support groups
Peer-to-peer support
Relevant learning opportunities
Throughout the year, we host a range of courses and information sessions for younger stroke survivors that can help you readjust to life after stroke. We choose topics based on the needs of our network and have covered areas such as fatigue, returning to work, mindfulness and many more.
Stroke Connect Services
Our community-based telephone support services offer practical and emotional support after a stroke. This free service assesses your needs and provides up to eight weeks of phone support to help you continue your recovery at home.
To join our Young Stroke Survivor Network, please fill in this form.
To find out more about joining our groups, please contact Helena at hheffernan@irishheart.ie or on 086 130 0237.
Our Life after Stroke Facebook support group is a strong community of stroke survivors of all ages who offer each other advice, information and support in a private environment. Group activities include free online exercise classes, information talks, health advice and peer-to-peer support. Sign up now.
Call our Nurse Support Line with any questions or concerns you may have about managing life after stroke. The Nurse Support Line is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm on 01 668 5001.
Tallaght University Hospital has launched their new booklet ‘CHATS: Children Helped by Adults to Talk about Stroke’ to help families navigate the traumatic event.
Learn MoreOur Stroke Connect Service (SCS) is a weekly support service for stroke survivors who need practical and emotional support.
Learn More