THE Irish Institute of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy is running a course of lectures from October to March on the basic concepts of psychoanalysis. Topics include child development, dreams, cinema and literature. Lectures will take place on Thursdays from 8 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. and the course costs £225. A few places also remain on the institute's three year part time clinical training course in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy which begins next month too. Individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy is available with senior trainees at reduced cost. For more information contact IIPP, 124 Ranelagh Road, Dublin 6. Tel (01) 4978896.
PARENTS are often under great stress when a child is hospitalised volunteers from the Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital can help. The association is appealing for volunteers for four south Dublin hospitals. If you are a mature, cheerful and reliable person who loves children and if you have one morning, afternoon or evening a week to spare, phone (01) 2889278/2697108 for details of an information morning on September 28th.
BRITISH researchers conducting a study of breast development are appealing for help with their work. Breast development is a complex process that may be determined by genes. According to the researchers, one way to identify the genes is to study families that have variations in normal breast development such as additional nipples, additional breasts or an absence of breast tissue. If you and at least two members of your family have variations in normal breasts you could be able to make an important contribution to research. Replies will be kept confidential. Contact Diane Averill, London University, Section of Epidemiology, Block D, Cotswold Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5NG, England.
AGE Action Ireland is compiling the first directory of services relating to dying, death and bereavement as part of a wider project on Education for Life and Death. It will provide information on terminal illness or fatality and support for the bereaved. Anyone who knows of such services should contact Olive Broderick at Age Action Ireland, St Andrew's Resource Centre, 114-116 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. Tel/fax: (01) 6779892.
OMAGH Library will host a conference on Thursday to explore relationships between the verbal and dramatic arts and people with hearing loss. Further information from Roisin Lawler, Verbal Arts Centre, Derry. Tel. 08 01504 266946; fax 08 01504 263368.