{jcomments off}In Northern Ireland, more than 1,100 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year.  It’s the country’s second biggest cancer killer, but it shouldn’t be.  Bowel cancer is very treatable - especially if diagnosed at an early stage.  Bowel Cancer UK aims to save lives and improve the quality of life for all those affected. 

We want to make sure everyone knows about the disease, recognises the symptoms, and knows what to do next.  Could you help us raise awareness?  Bowel Cancer UK is keen to recruit volunteers from across Northern Ireland.  Once trained, volunteers will share their knowledge of bowel cancer with the public by staffing information stands at community events and giving awareness talks. 

For more information, visit: www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer  or contact Bernadette McGarry, Health Promotion and Outreach Officer at Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or Tel: 0779 85 236678.

{jcomments off}A major new public information campaign to tackle overweight and obesity was launched at the start of January 2013 by the Public Health Agency.  The campaign takes two main approaches.  Firstly, it helps people to identify whether they are inching towards bad health by being overweight or obese.  Secondly, it offers advice on small steps that can be taken to help reduce waist size. 

A website - www.choosetolivebetter.com - has also been developed to support the campaign by providing helpful tips.

{jcomments off}Since March 2011, the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) has been working on an all-Ireland ‘Young Men and Suicide Project’ (YMSP).  This cross-Border initiative was jointly funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention in the Republic of Ireland, and the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland. 

The aim of YMSP was to identify a range of possible means to promote positive mental health among young men on the island of Ireland, and to assess the efficacy of these approaches.  A full report on the project will be launched on Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in both Dublin and Belfast.  You are invited to attend either of these launches - which will take place from Noon until 1.30pm (including a light lunch). 

Please see www.mhfi.org/ymsplaunch.pdf for details of these events.  Copies of the report will be available online after the launch has taken place.

{jcomments off}It seems like only yesterday when we were all hyped-up for Men’s Health Week 2012, and now the next one is just around the corner ...  International Men's Health Week (MHW) always begins on the Monday before Father's Day and ends on Father's Day itself. 

This coming year, it will run from Monday 10th until Sunday 16th June 2013.  It is celebrated in most European countries, as well as in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and a number of other places worldwide.  The aims of MHW are to: heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages; support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices / activities; encourage the early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males. 

Why not put these dates into your diary, and start thinking about how your group could mark this week?  More details about the theme, and how to get involved, will follow in the New Year. 

{jcomments off}The ‘Taking Boys Seriously’ report presents the findings of a five year research study conducted by the Centre for Young Men’s Studies, funded by the Department of Education and the Department of Justice.  The study followed a cohort of 378 male pupils from nine post-primary schools - capturing their thoughts and experiences on an annual basis between School Years 8 and 12. 

The fieldwork commenced in the academic year 2006/7 and concluded in the academic year 2010/11.  The specific objectives of the research were to increase understanding of: factors that may contribute to male academic underachievement and practical ways to address this; the value of education and how school can become a more positive learning experience; non-formal educational approaches; male transitions through post-primary school and beyond post-primary school to higher education/work, and factors that impact upon future employment aspirations; transitions from boy to man; how experiences of violence in a post-conflict society impact upon education and learning. 

These objectives were investigated through identifying and exploring factors that impacted upon the social, physical, psychological and emotional well-being of boys during their five year experience of post-primary education.  The report can be downloaded in Portable Document Format at: www.deni.gov.uk/taking_boys_seriously_final.docx.pdf

{jcomments off}The Man Matters project recently launched a new Policy Briefing Paper titled: ‘Understanding Fatherhood in the 21st Century’.  This report draws together local and international research on fatherhood, and was written by Dr Maria Lohan and Colin Shaw from Queen's University Belfast. 

The paper presents the challenges facing fathers, and highlights the obstacles to their full involvement in children's lives.  It also makes a series of recommendations for public policy and practice - which are needed to support the changing role of fathers in the 21st Century.  Copies can be downloaded from: www.mhfi.org/manmattersbriefing2.pdf

{jcomments off}Findings from new Safefood funded research into the cost of overweight and obesity on the island of Ireland has estimated the annual cost to be €1.64 billion (€1.13 billion Republic of Ireland; €510 million Northern Ireland). 

The study, conducted by University College Cork, found that in the Republic of Ireland, 35% of total costs (€398 million) represented direct healthcare costs i.e. hospital in-patient; out-patient; GP and drug costs.  However, two thirds (65%) of the economic costs were indirect costs in reduced or lost productivity and absenteeism, and amounted to €728 million.

In total, 18 weight-related diseases were studied, and the main drivers of direct healthcare costs are: cardiac disease (44%), Type 2 diabetes (9%), colorectal cancer (12%), stroke (6%) and cancers of the breast (2%), kidney (3%) oesophagus (2%) and gallbladder (3%).  Low back pain is a major driver for work absenteeism and productivity loss. 

The Executive Summary can be found at: www.safefood.eu/SafeFood/media/SafeFoodLibrary/Documents/Publications/Research%20Reports/Final-Exec-Summary-The-Economic-Cost-of-Obesity.pdf

{jcomments off}Do you work with adult learners in Neighbourhood Renewal Areas (Northern Ireland only)?  If so, the Educational Guidance Service for Adults (EGSA) has recently launched exciting new modules as part of their Creating Opportunities Toolkit. 

This training is free, and is designed to improve employability and personal development.  New modules cover: Social Media and Job Searching; Financing your Learning; Your Job In… (job areas chosen by your group).  EGSA works with adults across Northern Ireland.

For more information, Contact Nikki Sullivan on Tel: 028 9024 4274 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.