{jcomments off}Infertility affects approximately 1 in 6 couples, and 40% of the problems experienced are related to the man.  Under the guidance of Professor Sheena Lewis, research at Queen’s University Belfast has shown that alcohol intake, recreational drug use, and smoking all cause damage to sperm.  Damage to sperm DNA affects every fertility checkpoint and increases the risk of miscarriage.  At Lewis Fertility Testing, the SpermComet^TM Test has been developed.  This is a second-generation sperm DNA damage test that provides more information than conventional semen analysis or any other sperm DNA test.  With individual sperm analysed for DNA damage, this is the most sensitive DNA test available.  Clinically defined thresholds guide couples to the best course of fertility treatment for them.  The Test can also explain 80% of previously unexplained infertility.  For further information, visit: www.lewisfertilitytesting.com

{jcomments off}During May 2013, See Change will be rolling out a month long Green Ribbon campaign to get people in Ireland talking openly about mental health problems.  More than 150,000 green ribbons will be distributed nationwide - free of charge - to spark a national conversation about mental health in boardrooms, break-rooms, chat rooms, clubhouses, arts venues, college campuses and around kitchen tables throughout Ireland.  The aim is to make the month of May every year synonymous with promoting open conversation about mental health, and challenging the stigma which is often attached to mental health problems.  For more information on how you can get involved, visit: www.greenribbon.ie

{jcomments off}The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is inviting tenders for an evaluation of their 'Healthy Club Project'.  This initiative is run in partnership between the GAA and the Health Service Executive (HSE).  The aim of the Healthy Club Project is to explore the potential of the GAA club as a setting in which to promote the health and well-being of club members and the wider community.  The current tender is to conduct an evaluation of Phase 1 of the project, and the timeframe for this work is 22 months - commencing on the 1st June 2013.  The maximum budget is €22,000 (including VAT but not including design and print of final report).  Submissions must be received by 5.00pm on Monday 20th May 2013.  Please send tenders by email, along with a CV, to Mr Colin Regan at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   For more detailed information, visit: www.mhfi.org/GAAevaluationtender.pdf

{jcomments off}We are issuing a call to researchers, service providers, practitioners, trainers, those who work with men’s groups ...  to submit a 200 word abstract for a Poster Presentation on their work with men in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. These posters will be displayed at a forthcoming conference which is being organised by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in partnership with the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI).  This event is titled ‘From Policy to Practice: Profiling the Impact of Ireland’s National Men’s Health Policy’, and it will take place on Thursday 13th June 2013 in Dr Steevens' Hospital, Dublin.

The aim of this conference is to highlight the key outputs in the area of men’s health in Ireland that have been delivered since the publication of the Men’s Health Policy and 5-year Action Plan, and to set priorities for core policy areas in men’s health in the future.

Abstracts should relate to work which falls under the following key themes:

• Gender specific health promotion targeted at men - alcohol, drugs, smoking, obesity, physical activity, violence, injury prevention and sexual health
• Men’s health in the workplace
• Men's health and fatherhood
• Gay and bi-sexual men's health
• Community development work with a focus on men's health
• Mental health promotion and suicide prevention in men
• Chronic illness prevention and treatment for men
• Gender and palliative care
• Men's health among ethnic minorities
• Men’s health training

All abstracts submitted will be considered for a Poster Presentation at this event.  Please submit your abstract by email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  by no later than 5.00pm on Friday 10th May 2013.  Notification of acceptance will be issued by Wednesday 15th May 2013.

Further details on the conference itself will be available in the near future.

{jcomments off}The Health Service Executive Health Promotion Department Dublin / North East invites you to participate in their ‘Jest for the Health of It - Using Humour to Promote Health’ workshop.  This will take place on Tuesday 23rd April 2013, from 9.30am to 1.00pm, in the Regional Education Centre, St. Brigid's Complex, Kells Road, Ardee, Co. Louth.  The aim of the workshop is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to introduce humour into health courses and presentations - with a view to making the experience more entertaining and health messages more memorable.  In the words of Virginia Trooper: ‘It’s not what’s taught, but what’s caught.  If we can get our students’ mouths open for laughter, we can slip in a little food for thought!’  Upon completion of the training, participants will have: explored the different theories of humour; gained an understanding of the health benefits of laughter; acquired a basic understanding of joke structure; participated in a punchline challenge; acquired practical skills in formulating health promotion in a humorous way.  The training is An Bord Altranais Category 1 approved, and will be delivered by Finian Murray, Men's Health Development Officer, HSE (stand-up comic in his personal time).  To book a place on this free training, contact Finian on Tel: 00353 (0)87 2038790 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}The Marie Keating Foundation’s annual ‘Get Men Talking’ campaign will once again run throughout March.  This initiative aims to promote early detection as the first line of defence when it comes to testicular and prostate cancer.  Throughout the month, the Foundation will also focus on the importance of being vigilant about men’s health issues and reducing the risk of developing cancer through positive lifestyle choices. 

The Foundation will encourage people to visit its dedicated interactive website - www.getmentalking.ie - which has been developed specifically to focus on men’s cancers, and offers practical information and advice.  Importantly, it gives users the chance to ‘Ask an Expert’ about any concerns they may have in complete confidence. 

This service is provided free of charge, and affords users the opportunity to speak up about symptoms which they may feel are embarrassing.  This year, the Foundation will also host a Men’s Health Conference.  This will see both prostate cancer patients and experts working in the field coming together to discuss issues such as developments in treatment options and potential quality of life issues such as impotence and incontinence. 

Throughout the month of March, the Foundation’s Mobile Information Units will be visiting men’s groups and workplaces nationwide - bringing them the facts about male cancers and the benefits of talking more openly about health issues.  The service is provided in an informal way, and is completely free of charge.  Log on to www.mariekeating.ie to arrange for a Mobile Information Unit to visit your organisation or to see if there will be a Unit visiting a community near you.

{jcomments off}The main aim of the ‘Men on the Move Activity Programme’ was to increase the level of physical activity amongst men over 35 years of age in Co. Mayo.  The emphasis in the programme was on creating awareness and understanding of the importance of physical activity and the health benefits for not only physical health, but for mental health and well-being as well. 

The programme ran over 16 weeks, and offered a variety of activities to men aged 35 to 74 years old.  It was delivered in three pilot sites: Ballina, Claremorris and Westport.  The programme followed the Department of Health and Children’s National Physical Activity Guidelines for Ireland (2009). 

An evaluation report is now available online at: www.mhfi.org/mayomenonthemove.pdf

{jcomments off}Would you like to develop a website for your men’s group, Men’s Shed or simply advertise your support services for men? ...  If the answer is ‘yes’, then Man Matters is running a free four day workshop to teach you how to design your own website.  At the end of the training, participants will be able to produce their own self-managed website.  Applicants must have a basic understanding of IT (i.e. they should know how to use a mouse, a keyboard, and how to access emails and the Internet).  It is also desirable that participants understand the basics of word processing, have knowledge of computer filing systems (using folders, copying and moving files etc.), and an understanding of internet protocols (e.g. what a domain name is and what a web address means).  The course is free to men and women who work with men’s groups, as well as to anyone who has completed a course under the Man Matters programme.  The training will take place in Lurgan, Co. Armagh, on consecutive Fridays: 12th, 19th, 26th April and 3rd May 2013.  To book a place on this course, contact Michael Glover on Tel: 02890 329718 or visit: www.wea-ni.com/seminar