Tracking differences in COVID-19 infection, illness and death among women and men is essential to understanding the pandemic.  The COVID-19 Sex-Disaggregated Data Tracker is the world’s largest database of sex-disaggregated data on COVID-19.  It is produced by Global Health 50/50, the African Population and Health Research Center and the International Center for Research on Women.  Together, they are investigating what roles sex and gender are playing in the outbreak, building the evidence base of what works to tackle gender disparities in health outcomes, and advocating for effective gender-responsive approaches to COVID-19.  See how different countries are affected at: https://globalhealth5050.org/the-sex-gender-and-covid-19-project

Loneliness is emerging as a key public health challenge for the population during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Evidence shows that it is a significant issue for population health - as people who experience loneliness have a poorer overall quality of life and physical and mental health.  Register now for an Institute of Public Health webinar focusing upon the impact of Covid-19 on loneliness on the island of Ireland.  This will take place on Thursday 25th February 2021, between 11.00am and 12.15pm.  At this event, you will hear from leading experts and community organisations about the evidence, policy and challenges for public health.  To book a place, visit: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d5XYgGcFTgWpF8NMkQg-cg

You are invited to join an online discussion hosted by the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust’s Men’s Health Network to explore men’s health in the next two years.  This will take place on Thursday 11th March 2021, from 9.30am - 11.00am.  The guest speakers are: Dr Noel Richardson (Director of the National Centre for Men's Health in IT Carlow); Hannah Williamson (Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke); and Gerry McElwee (Head of Cancer Prevention, Cancer Focus Northern Ireland).  To register for a place, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TILDA is a large-scale longitudinal study that collects information on the health, economic and social situation of a nationally representative sample of 8,504 older community-dwelling adults in Ireland and looks at how their circumstances change.  When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Ireland in March 2020, TILDA was uniquely positioned to document the impact the pandemic had on the lives of older adults.  With the support of the Health Research Board, TILDA surveyed 4,000 of its existing participants between July and November 2020.  The TILDA COVID-19 report covers a range of aspects of the lives of adults aged 60 years and older during the first few months of the pandemic.  As well as information on changes to normal activities due to social distancing and other restrictions on social interactions, it examines how these alterations to peoples’ lives impacted on their physical and mental wellbeing.  See the report at: https://tilda.tcd.ie/publications/reports/pdf/c19-key-findings-report/COVID-19%20Key%20Findings%20Report.pdf

To mark 'National No Smoking Day' on Wednesday 17th February 2021, the HSE would like to invite you to a webinar from Noon - 1.00pm.  National No Smoking Day is an opportunity to highlight how far we have come in relation to de-normalising tobacco use in Ireland, and to call on all sectors of society to support the next steps.  People who smoke are more likely to get COVID-19, and risk having a more severe infection compared to those who don’t smoke.  Now, more than ever, it is vitally important to collectively take actions to protect respiratory health at a population level.  Preventing tobacco initiation, and helping those who do smoke to successfully quit, is the most effective way of achieving this.  Register for a place at: https://bit.ly/3p227D6

Speaking directly to men, the Samaritans sought to discover how to appeal to and engage men before they reach a crisis point.  Their new handbook, 'Engaging Men Earlier: A Guide to Service Design', provides a set of principles upon which wellbeing initiatives for men should be based.  Get a copy at: https://www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans/research-policy/middle-aged-men-suicide/engaging-men-earlier

Jenna Garity, a final year Psychology Student in University College Cork, is conducting a piece of research which examines older (60+ years) Irish men’s experience of looking for psychological help, including barriers and mediators.  She is, currently, looking for volunteers to interview.  Participants will be asked to take part in a one-to-one interview online with a member of the research team.  This will be audio-recorded, and is expected to take 15-20 minutes to complete.  Participation in this study is completely voluntary and, should you choose to do so, you can refuse to answer specific questions or decide to withdraw from the interview at any time.  Once the interview has concluded, you can still choose to withdraw your details in the subsequent two weeks.  To find out more, contact the researcher by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Global Action on Men's Health (GAMH) is a collaborative project that brings together men’s health organisations worldwide.  GAMH produces regular eBulletins for its members and others interested in its work.  If you would like to subscribe to the free eBulletin, or to see past copies, visit: http://gamh.org/ebulletin