{jcomments off}The Men's Community Initiative within Áras Inis Gluaire has joined with the Marie Keating Foundation to offer a Cancer Awareness Day for men.  This will take place on Thursday 14th June 2012, from 10.30am - 4.00pm, in Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet, Co. Mayo.  This day will include: a mobile information unit (with a nurse from the Marie Keating Foundation) which will offer free advice and information packs on all male-related cancers, including prostate, bowel and testicular cancer; a talk hosted by local GP, Dr Keith Swanick; advice on healthy living / diet; information on the Men's Community Initiative’s upcoming programme of activities.  For more information, contact Lorraine Wilson at Tel: 097 81079  /  Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}A Health Intelligence Briefing on Traveller Mental Health is now available.  This is part of a series of briefings being prepared by Health Intelligence in the Public Health Agency.  Many factors influence mental health and these are explored in this document; taking into consideration that these links can be bi-directional.  Before addressing prevalence, influencing factors, help-seeking, and treatment provision and uptake, a brief summary on Traveller culture is given - which provides the context for understanding the association between influencing factors, mental health and help-seeking.  Download a copy of this paper at: www.mhfi.org/travellermentalhealth.pdf

{jcomments off}Are you interested in carrying out research into men’s health?  Are you trying to make sense of a research report?  If so, why not think about doing a course in research methods? ...  The School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast offers a postgraduate Masters or Diploma in Social Research Methods (MRes / DipRes).  The course provides grounding in both quantitative and qualitative research skills, as well as their practical application.  These taught modules are usually given during evenings or at weekends.  The Diploma involves taking four modules, while Masters students do an additional research dissertation.  The course can be done in one year on a full-time basis or over two years part-time.  Applicants will be expected to hold a good honours degree in a relevant subject.  However, those with an alternative qualification and/or an approved level of relevant work experience may be admitted.  A limited number of Home / EU fees-only bursaries are available for the coming year.  The deadline for a bursary application is 30th June 2012.  To discuss the course or an application, please contact the course Director, Prof Robert Miller (Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  /  Tel: 02890 973275).  For further information, visit:  www.qub.ac.uk/home/StudyatQueens/CourseFinder/PCF1213/PTCF1213/?p_id=2511&sn=1213&subjects=2516#degreeinfo

{jcomments off}Do you work with men?  Would you like to develop a website for your men’s group / Men’s Shed, or to advertise your support services for men?  If ‘Yes’, then Man Matters invites you to join one of their free training workshops which will teach you how to design and create your own website.  Participants on this course will be introduced to Joomla web design software, and will learn all the basics needed to create their own site.  Each workshop will be held in the offices of the Workers’ Educational Association (3 Fitzwilliam Street, Belfast BT9 6AW) and lasts for two full days (10.00am - 4.00pm).  Lunch / refreshments will be provided.  The first workshop will be held on Friday 18th and Friday 25th May 2012, and the second will take place on Friday 15th and Friday 22nd June 2012.  For more information, contact Michael Glover on Tel: 028 9032 9718 or book online at: www.wea-ni.com/seminar

{jcomments off}David Caren, the founder of popular website Dad.ie, has written a practical, straight-talking pregnancy guide for expectant Irish fathers - and all from a dad’s perspective.  Becoming a dad is one of the most important life-changing events to occur in a man’s life.  But while there are hundreds of books out there for mums-to-be, there has been precious little for local dads-to-be.  Father-of-three David’s new guide is an easy, practical read, written by a dad for dads.  It combines real-life experiences, tried-and-tested tips, and expert views.  It also accompanies the expectant dad through each trimester, every mood swing (his and hers), the main event (labour), and those first weeks of new family life.  It is now available in bookshops.  See http://obrien.ie/book975.cfm  for more details.

{jcomments off}A new Health Intelligence Briefing on Traveller Mental Health is now available.  This is part of a series of briefings being prepared by Health Intelligence in the Public Health Agency.  Many factors influence mental health and these are explored in this document; taking into consideration that these links can be bi-directional.  Before addressing prevalence, influencing factors, help-seeking, and treatment provision and uptake, a brief summary on Traveller culture is given - which provides the context for understanding the association between influencing factors, mental health and help-seeking.  Download a copy of this paper at: www.mhfi.org/travellermentalhealth.pdf

{jcomments off}Sexual health is everyone’s business.  The Royal College of Physicians in Ireland (RCPI) is hosting events for National Sexual Health Awareness Week which draw attention to a broad range of issues.  These activities will take place in the RCPI premises at 6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2.  All events are free of charge, and open to both health professionals and members of the public.  For further information on what’s taking place, see www.mhfi.org/shaw2012.pdf   To book a place, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or  Tel: 01 863 9700.

{jcomments off}You are invited to the preview of the 2011 Young Life and Times (YLT) survey results.  This will take place on Tuesday 15th May 2012, from 12.30pm - 2.15pm, in Room OG074, Lanyon Building, Queen’s University Belfast.  The YLT survey is an annual initiative that records the views of 16 year olds living in Northern Ireland about the issues that directly concern them.  The main topics included in the 2011 survey were: community relations; attitudes to / experiences of contact with minority ethnic groups; mental health and loneliness; sexual attitudes and experiences.  Young Life and Times is a component of ARK (a joint project between Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster), and the 2011 YLT dataset and key tables of results will be made publicly available at www.ark.ac.uk/ylt on 16th May 2012.  If you would like to book a free place, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or Tel: 028 7167 5513.