{jcomments off}Does your men’s group need a constitution? ...  If you’re not sure, why not come along to the ‘Understanding Constitutions Workshop’ and find out?  This workshop will take place on Monday 26th November 2012, from 9.30am - 1.00pm, in Crumlin Road Gaol, Crumlin Road, Belfast.  At this event, you will find out about some of the benefits of becoming a constituted group, as well as having an opportunity to share your experience with like-minded people.  The workshop (and car parking) is free.  However, participants can choose, if they wish, to also enjoy a reduced fee guided tour of this well-known former prison after the workshop has ended (at a cost of £5.00 per head).  For more details, contact Michael Glover on Tel: 02890 329718 or book online at: www.wea-ni.com/seminar

{jcomments off}The ‘Rejuvenate Project’ is holding two meetings to explore the possibilities for starting-up Men’s Sheds for men aged 55+ in Ligoniel/Ballysillan and Upper Ardoyne areas of North Belfast.  These events will take place on: Thursday 15th November 2012, 12.00pm - 2.00pm, in Eglinton Presbyterian Church Hall, Carr’s Glen, Ballysillan Road, Belfast, BT14 6RB; and on Friday 16th November 2012, 12.00pm - 2.00pm, in The Wolfhill Centre, 148 Ligoniel Road, Belfast, BT14 8DT.  Everyone is welcome to attend, and lunch will be provided.  For further information, contact Geraldine at Tel: 02890 752990 / Mobile: 07850 651263 / Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}'Man Matters' is a partnership in Northern Ireland which involves the Workers' Educational Association (WEA), Home-Start NI, Parenting NI and the Men's Health Forum in Ireland.  It is supported by the Big Lottery Fund.  The project focuses on males, and addresses the themes of health, education, parenting/family, and community work/volunteering.  It works, primarily, with men to increase their knowledge and capabilities, but also seeks to influence how services are provided and policies are made.  Man Matters may be able to help your local work by offering courses, workshops, volunteering opportunities, events, seminars and conferences.  The project has, recently, re-launched its website at www.manmatters.org  and has created a new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Man-Matters/280916372017605

{jcomments off}To mark International Men’s Day 2012 (19th November), Helplink Support Services are offering 10 free online counselling sessions to men from throughout Ireland.  Men must register their interest for these sessions by Saturday 17th November by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  and quoting 'International Men's Health Day'.  Applicants must give their name and phone number for contact purposes, and choose a time and a counsellor (see www.helplink.ie).  The online counselling sessions are available from 1.00pm - 9.00pm.  The last bookable session is 8.00pm.

{jcomments off}To mark World Mental Health Day, a new interactive online programme called ‘Work Out’ has been launched.  This is designed to help young men on the island of Ireland to improve their ‘mental fitness’.  This website is the result of a partnership between Inspire Ireland, the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) and the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland.  It is one element of a bigger all-island initiative called the ‘Young Men and Suicide Project’ (funded by the DHSSPS, PHA, HSE and NOSP).

Work Out (www.workoutapp.ie) is free and easy to access.  It is based upon a series of brief online interventions (called ‘Missions’) which utilise the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.  During Work Out, young men are invited to:

• Register for an account.
• Take a comprehensive test to assess their strengths and weaknesses.
• Undertake a series of practical ‘Missions’ to improve their mental fitness.
• Use the online reports to check (at any time) how they are improving.

The Work Out programme addresses four main areas:

• Being Practical
• Building Confidence
• Taking Control
• Being a Team Player

It offers young men a standalone programme that they can access in their own time, and engage with on their own terms.  They can choose as many, or as few, Missions as they wish to within each of the main areas focused upon.

For more details, click here to see the Press Release about the launch.

{jcomments off}Don’t forget ...  Wednesday 10th October 2012 is World Mental Health Day.  This occasion seeks to raise public awareness about mental health issues, to promote open discussion on this subject, and to highlight prevention, promotion and treatment services.  This year the international theme for the day is ‘Depression: A Global Crisis’.  Depression affects more than 350 million people of all ages, in all communities, and is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease.  Although there are known effective treatments for depression, access to treatment is a problem in most countries and, in some countries, fewer than 10% of those who need it receive such treatment.

{jcomments off}A new report examines why men from disadvantaged backgrounds in their 30s, 40s and 50s are at higher risk of suicide.  On average, around 3,000 middle-aged men take their own lives each year, and men from low socio-economic backgrounds living in deprived areas are ten times more likely to die by suicide than men from high socio-economic backgrounds living in the most affluent areas.  The report, commissioned by the Samaritans, explores the reasons for suicide in this group of men, and calls for suicide to be addressed as a health and social inequality.  A copy of the report, titled: ‘Men and Suicide: Why it’s a Social Issue’, can be accessed online at: www.samaritans.org/media-centre/our-campaigns/were-your-corner/were-your-corner-research

{jcomments off}A new draft public health framework titled ‘Fit and Well - Changing Lives’ was published for consultation in July 2012 by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.  The consultation period will run until Wednesday 31st October 2012, and your views are being sought.  The new framework provides direction for policies and actions to improve health and well being and to reduce inequalities in health.  Like its predecessor - ‘Investing for Health’ - this proposed new strategic framework will require partnership working across government, the statutory, community and voluntary sectors.  It seeks to move Northern Ireland towards a vision where all people are enabled and supported to achieve their full health potential and well being.  The framework adopts a life course approach, and retains a focus on the most disadvantaged in society.  See www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/showconsultations?txtid=57771 for a copy of the document and details about how you can input to the consultation process.