{jcomments off}Alcohol Action Ireland’s 2013 national conference will take place in Dublin on Wednesday 20th November 2013, in the Royal College of Physicians, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, from 9.30am to 4.00pm.  Participants will hear from people who have experienced the impact of alcohol on their own mental health or that of their loved ones.  They will also hear from a range of experts, who will examine how alcohol is linked to a wide range of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide.  To find out more or to book a place, visit: www.alcoholireland.ie/facing-the-fear-alcohol-and-mental-health-in-Ireland

{jcomments off}Food Poverty is a serious national policy concern.  This multi-dimensional issue requires a cross-sectoral response.  Healthy Food for All's conference - titled: 'Food Poverty: Local Solutions to a National Issue' - will explore the main issues, consider the causal factors, and propose potential solutions.  This event will take place on Wednesday 20th November 2013 in the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland, 22 Merrion Square North, Dublin 2.  Contact Bebhinn Hare at Tel: 01 5494643  /  Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}You are invited to the 19th Annual Sexual Health Conference which will take place on Wednesday 20th November 2013, from 9.00am - 5.00pm, in Armagh City Hotel, 2 Friary Road, Armagh, Co. Armagh, BT60 4FR.  This year’s event will bring together a wide range of experts who will present up-to-date research and practice from throughout the UK and Ireland via keynote addresses and interactive workshops.  There will be a focus upon: RQIA inspection into sexual health services; abortion; NI legislation and equality issues; genito-urinary medicine and primary care services; Sexual Assault Referral Centre NI; young people and consent.  To get a booking form, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}The School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work within Queen’s University Belfast is offering two full-time PhD studentships to strengthen the evidence-base of the Ageing Sector in Northern Ireland.  Funding is available for three years, and will cover university fees and pay a stipend.  These studentships will focus upon: (1) Age-Friendly Society and Communities - this will address whether society and communities in Northern Ireland are age-friendly, especially for older people, and the research will inform policy and practice in Northern Ireland.  (2) Older Women Living with Domestic Violence, Alcohol and Substance Misuse.  For further information, funding regulations, and how to apply, visit the School’s website at: www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofSociologySocialPolicySocialWork/NewsandEvents/Title,419253,en.html   The closing date for applications is Wednesday 20th November 2013.

{jcomments off}“Crossin' the Bridge” is a short film made by the Menaware men's group in South Armagh.  Menaware works to raise awareness of the many issues relating to men and boys - especially their health and wellbeing.  The group worked for several months to write, act and shoot this film.  With improvised performances, and celebrating the beauty of the South Armagh landscape, Crossin’ the Bridge raises awareness of mental distress and what help is available - through offering an imaginative insight into the lives of real people.  Check it out at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwf0yr7S6NY&list=PLgVm4iNN0oSOYmTtsGQgvGrWH9Wu9FOPB&index=1

{jcomments off}The latest version of Public Health Information System (PHIS 2013) data produced by the Department of Health in the Republic of Ireland is available on The Health Well.  The tables include data up to 2011 for a number of health-related themes including cancer, mortality and hospital admissions.  PHIS data is an invaluable resource for the measurement of population health, for target-setting and evaluation, and for evidence-based service planning and policy formulation at both national and regional levels.  You can access the results at: www.thehealthwell.info/phis-tables

{jcomments off}Connect is a Freephone counselling and support service for adults who have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse or neglect in childhood.  The service is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE), is open Wednesday to Sunday from 6.00pm to 10.00pm, and is staffed by fully accredited psychotherapists and counsellors.  The service has noticed a large increase in new male callers to the service in the period between July and September 2013.  Generally, approximately 34% of callers to the service are men.  However, in this period, 46% of callers were men.  Often the men who call speak for the first time about difficult and traumatic experiences during childhood.  All callers remain anonymous, and the service is entirely confidential.  Visit: www.connectcounselling.ie  or Tel: 1800 477 477 (Republic of Ireland)  /  0800 477 477 77 (Northern Ireland).

{jcomments off}The Science for Prevention Academic Network (SPAN) has been awarded a grant to support the establishment of a network of prevention scientists and educators across Europe.  The Health Promotion Research Centre at NUI Galway is a partner in this project.  At this early stage of the project, they are seeking to build a database of projects involved in both preventive and health promoting interventions.  For the purpose of this exercise, health is defined as either ill health (e.g. cardiovascular disease, cancer, communicable diseases, psychological distress or psychiatric diseases, metabolic disease, injuries etc.) or as its intermediary behavioural or psycho-social factors/determinants (e.g. smoking, alcohol misuse, unsafe sex, lack of physical activity etc.).  They are keen to hear from initiatives which are involved in either preventive or health promoting interventions, with a view to including them in this database.  Contact Colette Dempsey (Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for a proforma.