{jcomments off}Men’s Health Week (MHW) will look different this year.  For the first time, there will be a common logo, an image pack, and a poster which can be used by everyone in Ireland who wishes to raise awareness of the week.

MHW will run from Monday 13th until Sunday 19th June 2011 - so, there’s still plenty of time for you to plan for it!  In Ireland, the focus is on: "Promoting and Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Men and Boys during Challenging Times".  The world of males, and the roles that they play in it, have certainly changed dramatically in a very short period of time.  All of these changes bring new challenges (both positive and negative), and many have a direct impact upon the health and well-being of men and boys.  Therefore, the key message for this week will be ‘let’s talk about it’.

Of course, there are many things that you could consider doing to mark this week.  However, even if you don’t have the resources, time or energy to organise a full-blown campaign or activity, here’s some very easy ways to get involved ...  Put a MHW poster (or two) up in your workplace / office / meeting space.  Insert the new MHW logo onto the bottom of your outgoing emails for the month of June.  Display the MHW banner on your website.  Visit the MHW Facebook page / become a ‘friend’ / say you like the site / send the link to all your contacts.  Check out the MHW Twitter page to hear all the latest news.  Make the MHW logo your desktop ‘wallpaper’ during June.  Send an email to everyone in your contacts list to tell them about Men’s Health Week and ask them to forward the message to all their contacts ...  Details on the logo, poster, image pack and Facebook / Twitter pages will soon be available at: www.mhfi.org/mens-health-week-2011.html

{jcomments off}In the build-up to Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in April, the Irish Cancer Society and Podge & Rodge are challenging the embarrassment factors associated with bowel cancer symptoms with the launch of their funny and insightful movie, “My Brother’s Bowels”.  This short film aims to: encourage people to talk openly about the symptoms of bowel cancer; ‘embarrass people out of their embarrassment’; highlight the importance of the early detection of bowel cancer; encourage people to call the National Cancer Helpline (Freefone 1800 200 700 - Republic of Ireland) and to visit their GP if they are concerned.  My Brother’s Bowels can be viewed via the Irish Cancer Society website at:  www.cancer.ie/bottomline

{jcomments off}“Women and Men in Ireland 2010” is a recently published report from the Central Statistics Office in the Republic of Ireland which collates key data on the lives and circumstances of Irish men and women.  It represents one of a series of key thematic social indicator reports that are structured around the nine equality grounds named in equality legislation in the Republic.  A Portable Document Format version of the report is available for online downloading at: www.cso.ie/releasespublications/women_and_men_in_ireland_2010.htm

{jcomments off}'A Call to Action - Educational Disadvantage and the Protestant Working Class' arose out of the findings from a small working group of teachers, educational administrators, academics, community activists and interested others who focused on the increasing educational under-performance of Protestant working class young people and, in particular, Protestant working class males.  A copy of the full report, summary report, and consultation responses are available at: www.dawnpurvis.com/?page_id=188

{jcomments off}Lesbian Line, Cara-Friend and The Rainbow Project are launching a range of resources to help professionals to understand and support the mental health needs of their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and/or Transgender clients.  The launch will take place on Thursday 21st April 2011, in Clifton House, North Queen Street, Belfast, from 9.45am - 1.00pm.  To book a place, Tel: 02890 319030 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}The Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) is inviting tenders for a research project to underpin an initiative titled: “Promoting Positive Mental Health and Preventing Suicide among Boys and Young Men on the Island of Ireland”.  The tender is for two specific aspects of the first phase of this programme of work.  Specifically, it will involve: (1) Reviewing national and international literature on men’s mental health and suicide, in order to establish evidence-based, best practice guidelines.  (2) Conducting an audit of existing practice and “what works” (by online questionnaire) among service providers.  The timeframe for this work is four months, commencing on the 21st of March 2011, and the maximum budget is €17,000 (including VAT).  Click here for a Portable Document Format (PDF) file giving more details on this tender.  Submissions must be received by 5.00pm on Tuesday 15th March 2011.  Please send tenders by email, along with a CV, to Dr Paula Carroll, at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

{jcomments off}This campaign, which runs throughout March, aims to tackle the stigma that is still associated with talking about conditions such as testicular and prostate cancer, and to give men a voice when it comes to their experience of male cancers.  Throughout March, the Marie Keating Foundation will focus on the importance of being vigilant about men’s health issues and reducing the risk of developing cancer through positive lifestyle choices.  The Foundation launched www.getmentalking.ie last year which has proven to be hugely popular.  Throughout the month, Mobile Information Units will be focusing on men’s health issues.  The Units will be visiting men’s groups and workplaces - bringing with them the message of early detection and the benefits of talking more openly about your health.  The service is provided in an informal way and is completely free of charge.  Log on to www.mariekeating.ie to arrange for a Mobile Unit to visit your organisation or to see if there will be a Mobile Information Unit visiting a community near you.

{jcomments off}The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) has launched a new ManAlive project to bring life saving messages and health checks to men in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area.  Men will now be able to locally access information and advice on weight management, stopping smoking, care in the sun and early detection, in addition to free health checks on their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose.  There will also be interactive health promotion sessions and self-development programmes to help improve men’s health.  At the launch, UCF unveiled their new ‘Man Van’ - a mobile unit which will bring one-to-one health awareness sessions and checks for men to their doorstep.  This will be staffed by a UCF Health Promotion Nurse and Senior Cancer Prevention Staff, and will aid early detection of cancers, offer cancer prevention information, and provide signposting to reduce men’s risk of cancer and improve their overall health.  Contact Sandra Gordon at Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.