{jcomments off}This study aims to explore spirituality in individuals with chronic illness (i.e. a long-term illness such as hypertension, cardiomyopathy, diabetes, arthritis etc.).  The research is being conducted by Elizabeth Weathers, a nurse and PhD student in University College Cork, under the supervision of Professor Geraldine McCarthy, Emeritus Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery.  Persons with a chronic illness, who are aged 18 years or older, are invited to participate in an online survey.  The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete, and includes questions about connection with others, meaning in life, ability to adopt new perspectives in life, and some general questions e.g. age, gender etc.  All responses will be anonymous.   If you are willing to participate, please visit: www.surveymonkey.com/s/MDSpS  For further information, see: http://elizawithers.wix.com/spirituality-study 

{jcomments off}Last year, a National Men’s Health Training programme (called ‘Engage’) was rolled-out in the Republic of Ireland.  Engage was developed in response to the growing demand from service providers for support to improve their engagement and work with men.  The content is based upon evidence from academic and evaluation literature, the authors’ practice experience, and an extensive 24 month pilot phase.  During Spring 2014, a Training for Trainers programme will be delivered for the first time in Northern Ireland.  Eighteen individuals will be selected to be part of the Engage Trainers’ Team in Northern Ireland.  They will be selected on the basis that they represent the broadest possible range of men’s work experience, geographic locations, workplace settings and interest groups.  On completion of the course, they will each be required to deliver sessions to front line practitioners.  Applications are now being accepted for this programme, which is supported by Man Matters and underwritten by the Big Lottery Fund.  A full overview of the programme is available at: www.mhfi.org/engagetraining2014.pdf while application forms can be accessed at: www.mhfi.org/engageapplication2014.doc   Please note that the deadline for submission of applications is 5.00pm on Monday 6th January 2014.

{jcomments off}Every year, the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) convenes an all-island Planning Group for Men’s Health Week in Ireland.  Organisations are invited to attend a number of meetings (some face-to-face and some via video-conference between Dublin and Belfast) to discuss the week and help to shape it.  The first meeting of this body will take place on Wednesday 29th January 2014, from 10.30am - 1.30pm, in the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Dundalk, Co. Louth.  If you would be interested in contributing to this meeting, please contact Colin Fowler by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}In mid-November 2013, New South Wales in Australia launched an online resource designed to support people who want to talk about suicide and to break down the barriers that prevent people from reaching out to one another.  Conversations Matter is a practical online resource to support safe and effective community discussions about this issue.  Visit the website at: www.conversationsmatter.com.au

{jcomments off}The presence of pronounced inequalities in mortality and life expectancy across income, education and social groups is now well established.  Research across a large number of developed and wealthy countries, including Ireland, has shown that those with fewer resources, less education, or a lower occupational class have higher Standardised Mortality Rates (SMRs) than more advantaged individuals.  This study found that the differential in SMRs between professional and unskilled men, aged 15+, decreased between 1984 and the early 1990s, but then increased significantly thereafter - as the SMR for professional men continued to decrease, whilst that of unskilled men stabilised and then began to increase.  See the online report at: www.esri.ie/publications/latest_working_papers/view/index.xml?id=3845

{jcomments off}My Health Apps (www.myhealthapps.net) is a new website from Patient View which brings together a range of health related online apps and information.

{jcomments off}In Northern Ireland, there are a range of healthcare services available.  However, it is important to choose the service which is most appropriate to your symptoms in order to get the right treatment in the right place.  To help with this selection, a new online resource called ‘Choose Well’ has been created.  You can visit it at: www.nidirect.gov.uk/choosewell

{jcomments off}Modern Fatherhood has just published a new report titled: ‘What do we know about non-resident fathers?’  This report is from NatCen Social Research, the Thomas Coram Research Unit and the University of East Anglia, and was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of the Secondary Data Analysis Initiative.  The study uses data from the United Kingdom wide survey ‘Understanding Society’ - which provides a nationally representative sample of non-resident fathers.  The report is available online at: www.modernfatherhood.org/publications/what-do-we-know-about-non-resident-fathers