Every year there are hundreds (possibly even thousands) of events and activities throughout Ireland to celebrate Men’s Health Week (MHW).  Some of these are well publicised, but most are only known about by a few people.  As in previous years, the Men's Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) will promote the details of any activities or events that are being held throughout Ireland during Men’s Health Week 2021.  This will help everyone to find out what is happening during the week, where it will take place, and how to join in.  It will also give some recognition and publicity to all those groups across Ireland that are doing something for and with men.

The ongoing COVID-19 situation will mean that many traditional MHW face-to-face events (e.g. health checks, conferences, launches, games, seminars, competitions, workshops, lunches, training courses, performances, displays, health fairs ...) may not take place this year.  However, many groups across Ireland are still being very creative and innovative about how they can engage with / support men.

Whatever it is that your group has planned, MHFI would like to promote it online - so, get in touch.  There are two ways to let us know about what is happening during 2021: (i) submit the details using the online form; or (ii) download and save a copy of the MS Word Registration Form, type in the details, and email it back to us.

Absolutely everyone can do something to support and celebrate Men’s Health Week (MHW) 2021.  The focus for this year (i.e. ‘Making the Connections’) lends itself to a wide range of ways to mark this occasion.  However, you don’t have to stick rigidly to this particular topic.  Anything which encourages men and boys to lead healthier lifestyles, to be more aware of preventable health problems, and to seek early detection and treatment for health difficulties will be very welcome.

Of course, it would be great if you could organise an event or activity.  However, there are also many simple, free and easy ways to get involved / show support.  There is a common logo / image pack which can be used by everyone who wishes to raise awareness of MHW.  There is also a MHW 2021 poster and postcard.  These are important promotional tools - as one of the key aims is to let as many people as possible know about the week.  These are available to anyone who wishes to use them at www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-image-pack.html

Promotion of MHW could take the form of:

1. Putting a Men’s Health Week poster (or two or three) up in your workplace / local shop / waiting room / home ...  and/or sending the MHW postcard to people you know.
2. Promoting the week on your website - using a copy of the Men’s Health Week logo or badge or banner.
3. Linking to the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland’s web page devoted to Men’s Health Week 2021 (www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2021.html) from your own website, Facebook page or other social networking site.
4. Sending an email to everyone on your mailing list to tell them about Men’s Health Week, and asking them to forward the message to all their contacts.  Why not also insert the MHW logo into your outgoing emails for the months of May and June?
5. Becoming a fan of the Men’s Health Week in Ireland’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MensHealthWeek) and sending this link to all your online friends.
6. Including information on Men’s Health Week 2021 in your mailouts / newsletters.
7. Telling others about what is happening in your area during Men’s Health Week by posting details on the MHFI website.  Use the form at: www.mhfi.org/mhw/promote-an-event.html
8. Making one of the Men’s Health Week 2021 graphics your computer desktop ‘wallpaper’ during May and June.
9. Reminding your colleagues to follow all the latest news on Twitter (www.twitter.com/MensHealthIRL).
10. Posting / Tweeting about the week using the hashtags #MensHealthWeek and #CheckItOut in your message.
11. Using the MHW Facebook Cover Photo or Twitter Header Image on your social media pages and feeds ...

Doing one or more of these simple (and free) things would contribute hugely to MHW 2021!

Men’s health issues and needs are numerous and complicated.  So much so, that we could probably assign a different one to highlight on each day of the year and still have an outstanding pool of ones to explore!  However, when preparing for Men’s Health Week (MHW) 2021, the all-island Planning Group felt that it would be useful to draw attention to a specific theme on each day during the week, as well as on the Friday leading up to it.  These are:

      -  Friday 11th June 2021:  What you need to know about Men’s Health Week 2021
      -  Monday 14th June 2021:  Healthy relationships / staying connected / tackling loneliness
      -  Tuesday 15th June 2021:  Physical health / activity
      -  Wednesday 16th June 2021:  Mental fitness
      -  Thursday 17th June 2021:  Giving to others / volunteering / helping to make a difference
      -  Friday 18th June 2021:  The importance of prevention / early detection / healthy lifestyle
      -  Saturday 19th June 2021:  Pledge to action day
      -  Sunday 20th June 2021:  Fathers, fatherhood and males in caring roles

Social media has become a powerful tool for organisations to spread their message.  During Men’s Health Week 2021, everyone is encouraged to ‘Post’ and ‘Tweet’ about it and, when possible, to use the hashtags: #MensHealthWeek and #CheckItOut

Even loading a few things to websites / Facebook pages / Twitter feeds / Instagram / TikTok / other social media platforms will make a huge difference to publicising the week.  This is, therefore, a really easy and free way to show support for MHW.

To keep everyone up-to-date with the latest news on Men’s Health Week (MHW) 2021 - as well as more general developments in the field of men’s work - check out Facebook (www.facebook.com/MensHealthWeek) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/MensHealthIRL).

However, as all social networkers know, pages such as these are no use unless they have a lot of Fans / Followers.  That’s where your help is needed! ...  Please visit the pages, click on the ‘LIKE’ button for Facebook and ‘FOLLOW’ button for Twitter, and send the link to all your friends.  If you’re really into it, please Tweet about MHW 2021 yourself, and include the hashtags #MensHealthWeek and #CheckItOut in your messages.

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

A series of health and wellbeing podcasts have been produced for counties Offaly, Laois, Westmeath and Longford.  These podcasts capture a wide range of diverse and interesting conversations with a range of professional staff working across the statutory, community and voluntary sectors in the Midlands.  They give fascinating insights into the experience and knowledge gained by these staff.  Topics include Men’s Health, Building Resilience, Domestic Violence, Parenting, Positive Ageing, Living with Loss, and Youth Mental Health.  Access them at: https://www.offalyldc.ie/offaly-talks-podcasts  |  https://laoispartnership.ie/laois-connects-podcasts  |  https://www.westcd.ie/index.php/westmeath-talks  |  https://lcrl.ie/longford-talks

This webinar, at 11.00am on Thursday 10th June 2021, marks the public release of the findings from the 2020 Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey (www.ark.ac.uk/nilt).  The survey recorded the views of 1,292 respondents across Northern Ireland to key social policy issues.  Coercive control is a form of domestic abuse, also known as: emotional or psychological abuse; indirect abuse; or emotional torture.  In order to address the need for evidence-based knowledge to improve public awareness and victim response to coercive control, a module of questions was included in the 2020 NILT survey.  Dr Susan Lagdon (Ulster University) and Dr Julie-Ann Jordan (Northern Health and Social Care Trust) will highlight the key findings, and discuss public understanding of coercive control within intimate relationships.  An expert panel will give their comments, followed by a general discussion.  To register, visit: tinyurl.com/scrk7z9z

Men’s Sheds offer a unique opportunity to reach a captive audience of 'hard-to-reach' men.  However, attempts to engage Sheds in structured health promotion programmes must respect the ethos of Sheds as highly variable, autonomous and non-structured spaces.  This paper (Study protocol: evaluation of sheds for life (SFL): a community-based men’s health initiative designed ‘for shedders by shedders’ in Irish Men’s sheds using a hybrid effectiveness-implementation design) captures the key methodologies used in the Irish Sheds for Life programme.  Find out more at: https://tinyurl.com/bwaky8u9