To celebrate World Mental Health Week 2021, Mental Health Ireland hosted a webinar titled 'The Man I Am: My Mind, My Body, My World'. This took place on Tuesday 12th October 2021, and the guest speakers included Brian Pennie, Keith Russell, David Dwyer and Shane O'Donnell - who all shared their own experiences and challenges of minding their mental health and wellbeing, and how this lived experience can support and empower others.  You can see the recording at: https://youtu.be/m_D-Ole_q6M

The Western Health and Social Care Trust, in partnership with Men's Action Network and the Men's Health Forum in Ireland, would like to invite you to apply for a place on an online training programme which will explore: (i) the key issues that impact on men and their mental wellbeing; (ii) potential ways to engage with men more effectively around these issues; and (iii) sources of support and information.  It is aimed at practitioners and service providers (male or female) who work with men in any setting.

'MANifest: Connecting Men with Mind Fitness' will take place over two mornings on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th of October 2021, and is free for participants. However, applicants must attend both sessions. To find out more, visit: https://www.mhfi.org/MANIfest2.pdf

You are invited to the third in a series of webinars focusing upon 'Engaging Men'.  This event - exploring 'The WHAT of Men’s Health' - will take place on Wednesday 29th September 2021, from Noon to 1.15pm.   Registration for the webinar is available at: https://bit.ly/3wyYdG9

At this event, you will hear from local projects about what they have offered to men to help improve their health and wellbeing, as well as why and how they developed these initiatives.

The presenters are:

-  Janis Morrissey, Director of Health Promotion, Information and Training, Irish Heart Foundation
-  Peter Jones, Programme Manager, Waterford Sports Partnership
-  Helen Forristal, Director of Nursing Services, Marie Keating Foundation

This series of webinars is hosted by HSE Health and Wellbeing, in partnership with the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland, the Men’s Development Network and the National Centre for Men's Health in IT Carlow.

Each event brings together insights and learning from organisations and practitioners who contribute to meeting the overarching aims of the HSE National Men’s Health Action Plan (titled 'Healthy Ireland - Men').

Are middle-aged men not interested in looking after their own mental health, or are we simply not offering them the right things in the right way? ...  If you work in the Republic of Ireland, are curious about the answer to this question, and would like to explore practical strategies to help your organisation to engage more effectively with middle-aged men, then you might be interested in a free one day workshop on ‘Men in the Middle’ - engaging middle-aged men in mental health and wellbeing.  This workshop was developed by the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI), and is a Unit within the highly successful and long-running ‘Engage’ National Men’s Health Training Programme.  MHFI is currently looking for groups who would like to host this free workshop for their staff / volunteers / networks in the coming months (if, of course, COVID restrictions allow).  For more details on how to get involved, see: https://www.mhfi.org/EngageUnit7Workshop2.pdf

This September, during ‘Heart Month’, the Irish Heart Foundation will be highlighting men’s heart health.  One in four men in Ireland die from heart disease and stroke.  The good news is that 80% of those deaths could be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices.  We can often feel that it’s too difficult to make changes to our lifestyle, but there’s no need to 'hang up the boots' yet.  This campaign will have lots of engaging tips, tools and resources to help men make small, sustainable changes to their lifestyle that can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.  Keep an eye on https://irishheart.ie and on the Irish Heart Foundation's Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts, and share the men's health message this September!

The International Journal of Men's Social and Community Health is, currently, calling for papers for a special issue on men's health across the lifespan.  This will cover a wide range of topics including: the health concerns of younger and teenage males; the interface between age and health literacy issues; mental health and wellbeing; age-related health issues for marginalised men and boys; age and public health concerns for men and boys; sexual and romantic relationships; fatherhood; age and chronic disease experiences; and health issues pertinent to older men.  A wide range of empirical (qualitative, quantitative, and structured reviews) and theoretical / conceptual papers on men’s health will be considered for publication in this special issue.  Find out more at: https://tinyurl.com/wwafuxbn

Each year, See Change rolls out a month-long Green Ribbon Campaign - to get as many people as possible talking about mental health and help to end stigma and discrimination.  By wearing a Green Ribbon (an international symbol for mental health awareness) you show that you are committed to influencing positive change.  You don’t need to be an expert to start talking about mental health or to have all the answers.  Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is to let someone know you are there for them and simply listen.  Find out about how to get involved at: https://seechange.ie/green-ribbon

Are you a man aged 18 or over who wants to lose weight? ...  If so, the 'Game of Stones' study may be just what you're looking for!  The research team running it (from a broad range of universities) is seeking men living in the Belfast, Glasgow and Bristol areas - who have a BMI of 30+ - to take part in their weight loss study.  Recruitment is already underway.  You can find out more at: https://www.gameofstonesresearch.com