{jcomments off}During 2009, the Northern Area Promoting Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Partnership (Public Health Agency) commissioned a scoping study into emotional health and well being work with young men throughout the Northern Area.  This study indentified a need to increase the resilience of vulnerable young men, and recommended engaging dedicated workers to deliver this work.  Two new Young Men’s Workers have now taken up post, and will engage with males aged 16-25 years of age.  Group work programmes lasting 6-8 weeks will be delivered and, the workers will consult with various agencies, groups and communities to ensure the most effective methods for engagement with local young men.  For more information, contact Terry Hamill (Antrim Youth Projects Office) at Tel: 02894 428003, or Paula Healy (Sunlea Youth Projects Office, Coleraine) at Tel: 02870 351599.

{jcomments off}At the start of the Summer, the Meath Primary Health Care Project for Travellers launched a new leaflet on “Health Facts for Men”.  Although this leaflet was designed to meet the needs of Traveller men, it contains a lot of useful information for all males.  It is now available for downloading from the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland website as a Publisher 2007 file at: www.mhfi.org/facts.pub and in Word format at: www.mhfi.org/facts.doc (please note that these files are very large).  For further information, contact the Meath Primary Health Care Project for Travellers at Tel 046 9071679 or Finian Murray (Men’s Health Development Officer) at Tel: 046 9280644.

{jcomments off}Is your organisation interested in developing work with fathers?  If so, then Parents Advice Centre would like to invite you to a Presentation Morning which will showcase some of the learning arising from the "Kick Start 2010" project - a seven month package of training, support, networking, reflection and practical action for groups that are trying to, or wishing to, engage with fathers.  The Kick Start 2010 trainees are now coming to the end of their time on the programme, and have organised an event to help others to: understand why we need increased engagement with fathers; get a sense of what Kick Start offers; meet Kick Start participants; find out about the hands-on things involved in running an activity for fathers.  This free event will take place on Wednesday 22nd September 2010 in NICVA, 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast BT15 2GB.  For more information and to download a booking form, click here or contact Pauline on Tel: 02890 310891.

{jcomments off}To inform the focus of Men’s Health Week 2010, ARK launched a factsheet on “Men and Physical Activity”.  This document looks at males and physical activity in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and is available for free downloading as a PDF file on the ARK website at: www.ark.ac.uk/services/MINI6.pdf

{jcomments off}As a follow-on to International Men’s Health Week this year (which focused upon men and physical activity), the Men's Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) is inviting males - and females who are prepared to dress as males - to participate in a series of runs which will be held in the spectacular grounds of Ardgillan Castle, near Skerries in Co. Dublin, on Saturday 4th September 2010.  This day will involve competitive 10km and 5km runs, and a 3km fun run / walk.  If you are looking for a personal challenge or a focus for your men’s group, this could be it!  Why don’t you think about participating?  Bring the rest of your family, walk around the gardens, have a picnic in the park, get a free health check, take the kids to the playground, join in the other activities on offer... there may even be a few famous faces there as well - you never know!

{jcomments off}The 7th World Congress on Men’s Health (titled “How to Overcome the Challenges”) will move delegates’ attention from the problems to the solutions. It will take place from 28th - 30th October 2010 in Nice, France, and offers a one-stop shop for multidisciplinary scientific exchange and solutions in urology, cardiology, endocrinology, oncology, sexual medicine, mental health, primary care, public policy, education, ageing and more.