{jcomments off}Mental Health Ireland is facilitating a one day interactive workshop on Men’s Mental Health.  This will be held on Tuesday 4th September 2012, from 10.00am - 4.00pm, in The Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley, Dublin 22.  This event will explore: men’s mental health awareness; attitudes to mental health; the interaction between mental and physical health; setting a personal development programme; how men manage stress.  For more information, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tel: 01 2841166.  To register for this event, visit: ww.mentalhealthireland.ie/training/training-and-education-modules.html?task=view_category&category_id=2

{jcomments off}See Change is an alliance of organisations who are working together through the National Stigma Reduction Partnership to bring about positive change in public attitudes and behaviour towards people with mental health difficulties in Ireland.  There are, currently, over fifty partner organisations who have committed to creating a community-driven social movement to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems.  The Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) is proud to be one of these partners.  If you’d like to see change, then why not get involved?  Check out www.seechange.ie for ideas.

{jcomments off}More than 100 men from Co. Mayo are taking part in a physical activity programme called ‘Mayo Men on the Move’.  This is a Health Service Executive funded initiative which is being coordinated by the Mayo Sports Partnership.  The programme is also supported by Croí - the West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation and Midwest Radio.  The programme is running in the Ballina, Westport and Claremorris areas, and all of the men recently came together to complete a 5k walk and fun run at Lough Lannagh, Castlebar.  Initially, information evenings were held in the three locations where men enrolled for the programme and received a free health check.  The programme targeted men over 35 years of age who were physically inactive.  Local leaders in the three towns support the project and front the twice weekly physical activity programmes at each location.  The programme is being formally evaluated; with the men’s health data being updated at Week 8, Week 16 and, again, towards the end of the programme.  It is hoped that this initiative can be further extended to other locations once the evaluation of the project has been completed.  For more information, contact the Mayo Sports Partnership at Tel: 094 9047025 or visit: www.mayosports.ie

{jcomments off}People who grew up during the worst years of The Troubles in Northern Ireland are more prone to suicide, according to research at Queen's University Belfast.  The study found that the highest suicide rate was among men aged 35-44 years.  Previously, younger men were believed to be most at risk.  The research, which examined death registration data over the past 40 years, found that the highest suicide rate was for men then aged 35-44 (41 per 100,000 by 2010), followed closely by the 25-34 and 45-54 age groups.  See: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18969202 for more details.

{jcomments off}The Southern Area Action with Travellers (SAAT) Safe and Well Project, working in partnership with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, is organising a seminar on the inequalities in Traveller men’s health.  This event will also see the launch of: ‘Dying 15 Years Early - what can Traveller men and relevant agencies do?’  The seminar will take place in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry, Co. Down on Wednesday 19th September 2012, from 9.30am to 1.00pm.  For more information, Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}Parkrun organises weekly, 5km, timed runs around the world.  These runs are open to everyone, are free, and are easy to take part in.  The events take place in pleasant parkland surroundings, and people of all abilities are encouraged to join in - from those taking their first steps in running to Olympians; from juniors to those with more experience.  Everyone is welcome.  There are, currently, six venues in Northern Ireland: Ecos Park (Ballymena, Co. Antrim), City Park (Craigavon, Co. Armagh), Queen’s (South Belfast), Falls (West Belfast), Waterworks (North Belfast), and Belfast Victoria (East Belfast).  These events are volunteer-led, and also encourage post-run social time amongst participants.  They are a great way to get men of all ages involved in taking some exercise.  For example, during Men’s Health Week 2012, local men responded to the call to join the Ecos parkrun on Saturday 16th June.  This saw the highest turnout of men to date: 57, of whom 12 were newcomers.  The organisers would like to thank the all-female volunteer team on the day, who made sure that the guys had no excuse not to run!

{jcomments off}Men Utd is an initiative aimed at supporting older men aged 55+, who live in the greater-Belfast area, and who may find themselves socially isolated.  It mixes opportunities to socialise, make new friends and get out of the house, with participation in health and well-being programmes and events.  The new Men Utd programme of events for the period September 2012 - June 2013 is now available.  This project also produces a quarterly newsletter called ‘Men 2 Men’ which features a wide range of information which is relevant to older men.  For more information, or to get a copy of the programme, contact Frank Johnston from Volunteer Now, Tel: 02890 818327, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}Dublin AIDS Alliance has launched a new safer sex social media campaign called ‘Just Carry One’.  The campaign is specifically aimed at young people aged 17 to 25 years, and involves engaging with young adults through games, videos and competitions.  Hear more about it at: www.facebook.com/justcarryone   This initiative is funded by the Department of Health and the National Lottery fund in the Republic of Ireland, and is supported by SpunOut.ie