{jcomments off}'Older Men: Demography' is the latest factsheet in the Men in Northern Ireland (MiNI) series.  Men in Northern Ireland is produced by ARK - a joint initiative between Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster.  ARK makes material on the social and political life of Northern Ireland available to the widest audience.  The MiNI series presents key statistics relating to demography, work, health, education, family life and caring responsibilities.  The 'Older Men: Demography' factsheet can be downloaded, for free, at: www.ark.ac.uk/services/MINI9.pdf  This resource collates data from the Census of Population and mid-year population estimates.

{jcomments off}You are invited to the launch of a Briefing Paper on ‘Fathers, Separation and Co-Parenting’.  This will take place on Thursday 23rd January 2014, from 8.30am - 10.30am, in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast.  This paper has been prepared for the Man Matters partnership (WEA NI, Parenting NI, Home-Start NI and the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland) working in collaboration with Family Mediation NI.  All of these organisations have become increasingly aware of the difficulties fathers face when trying to maintain contact with their children after relationships with their partner breakdown.  Therefore, they decided to undertake three pieces of work: research a briefing paper which would outline some of the issues relating to father-child relationships following separation and make recommendations for future action; produce ‘A Father’s Guide’ to parental separation; capture the experience of a range of separated fathers who are seeking to maintain a relationship with their children.  This event will present information from all these areas, and a light breakfast will be provided.  To book a place visit: www.wea-ni.com/seminar   To see a copy of the draft programme visit: www.mhfi.org/separatedfatherslaunch2014.pdf

{jcomments off}Current clinical research has linked HPV (Human Papillomavirus - the world’s most common sexually transmitted infection) to male cancers such as head and neck cancers, anal and penile cancer.  Clinical evidence indicates that correct condom use, in addition to receiving the HPV vaccine, provides the greatest protection from HPV infections.  The researchers in this study are interested in male attitudes and behaviours towards receiving the HPV vaccine and condom use.  Males, who are between the age of 18 and 28 years, are invited to participate in an online survey which should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete.  All responses will be anonymous.  If you are willing to participate, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DZ5PZG7   The co-investigator in this study is Serena Fitzgerald, a registered general nurse and PhD student from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork.  For further information on this research please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{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