Good News Corner

The Oldest Woman in Europe Survives Covid-19 Days Before Her 117th Birthday

A French nun who lived through the 1918 flu pandemic and both World Wars turned 117 last Thursday, shortly after recovering from Covid-19. Sister Andre, who lives at a retirement home in Toulon, France, remarked that she didn't even realise she had the virus until testing positive, saying she had only felt a bit 'tired.' Sister Andre is currently the 2nd oldest person in the world, after Kane Tanaka, a 118-year-old Japanese woman. 

Valentine's Cards for Frontline Workers

Nurses at Sligo University Hospital received Valentine's Day cards from schoolchildren as part of a 'Frontline Valentine's' effort orchestrated by teachers across the county. Boxes of colourful, hand-made cards containing messages of love and support were delivered to the hospital over the weekend in a bid to lift the spirits of our hardworking healthcare workers.

Frontline workers in Leitrim, Galway, Mayo and Limerick also received cards from the Sligo students, meaning the message of appreciation touched the hearts of hundreds across Connacht. 

Police in Denver, US, Launch Special 911 Response Unit for Mental Health Emergencies

The Support Team Assistance Response (STAR) program that was launched in Denver, Colorado last June has reported positive results following its first six months in action. In response to a call where a community member is experiencing mental health difficulties, substance abuse issues or homelessness, the program sends a two-person medical team instead of police officers or firemen. 

The creation of STAR has meant that trained professionals were able to respond to over 700 911 calls that would previously have been handled by police (a situation that often led to the fatal shootings of those in distress). It's a model that other cities and countries are being encouraged to adopt, in order to improve the quality of mental health services available to those who seek help.