The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact upon health and social care in Northern Ireland during 2020.  The Patient and Client Council is keen to hear how the pandemic affected your health care or social care, and how appropriate and effective you feel the Health and Social Care (HSC) response to COVID-19 has been.  You are invited to take part in a survey to evaluate the HSC response to COVID-19 from the perspective of a service user.  For more information, see: https://patientclientcouncil.hscni.net/novel-coronavirus/https-wh1-snapsurveys-com-s-aspk160855003903

People in Northern Ireland are invited to apply for a free place on an online suicide prevention awareness course.  This programme will be held in each of the Health Trust areas over the coming months.  The programme covers: (i) factors that lead to poor mental health, emotional distress and suicide; (ii) the role of mental health and emotions in relation to suicide prevention awareness; (iii) the 'Connect 4-Way Model' for helping persons experiencing emotional distress or suicide'; (iv) tools and resources for support in your community; and (v) the role of self-care and wellbeing in strengthening mental health and preventing suicide.  Find out more at: https://freshmindseducation.com/pha-link_life

To mark its twenty-first birthday, the Men's Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) launched two ‘Men’s Health in Numbers’ reports in December 2020.  These described changes in significant markers of men’s health on the island of Ireland in the last twenty years, and offered a lay person’s synopsis of contemporary key men’s health statistics in the Republic of Ireland.  Both documents can be downloaded at: https://mhfi.org/news/1096-men-s-health-in-numbers.html

You are invited to a 'Twitter Chat' with the authors, on Wednesday 13th January 2021 at 7.00pm (GMT), to discuss the findings and the issues raised ...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone in the Men's Health Forum in Ireland!

However, we know that the holidays can often be a stressful and worrying time for many people - and the COVID-19 situation this year has added even more pressure to everyone.  Therefore, please remember that if you need help and support over the Christmas period, you can always contact ...

      The Samaritans (all Ireland) - Freephone 116 123
      Pieta House (RoI) - Freephone 1800 247 247
      Lifeline (NI) - Freephone 0808 808 8000


or visit: www2.hse.ie/mental-health | www.mindingyourhead.info

 

The current joke doing the rounds is that anyone who bought a 2020 diary was mis-sold it, and should, therefore, be able to claim compensation (as COVID-19 kicked everyone’s meeting plans out of the ball park).  However, despite this, Men’s Health Week 2020 was still one of the biggest and best ever held in Ireland!

But, believe it or not, it’s that time again.  Yes, it’s time to get the most important date of the year into your new 2021 diary …  International Men's Health Week (MHW) always begins on the Monday before Father's Day and ends on Father's Day itself.  This coming year, it will run from Monday 14th until Sunday 20st June 2021.

Every year, the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) convenes an all-island Planning Group for MHW.  Would you be interested in joining with others from across the island of Ireland to help to shape MHW 2021? …  This can be done in many ways - from participating in meetings to electronic communication.  All input is very welcome, and helps to make the week stronger and more relevant.

The first meeting of the Planning Group will take place on Friday 8th January via a ‘Zoom’ video call.  But even if you can’t make this meeting, your feedback on developments via email / phone would still be very helpful.  If you would be interested in being part of the planning process for 2021 (in any way), contact us. 
 
However, even if this is not possible, why not put the dates of MHW 2021 into your new diary, and start thinking about how your group / workplace / church / community / sports club ...  could do something to mark this week?  It’s never too early to start planning.

The COVID pandemic has had a huge impact upon the mental health of everyone across Ireland.  The ‘Minding Your Wellbeing Programme’ (from the Health Service Executive’s Health and Wellbeing Division) provides a unique opportunity for people to learn more about the key elements of mental wellbeing - such as mindfulness, gratitude, self-care, staying connected and resilience.  It also provides simple practical tools and guidance for people to develop and maintain a positive outlook.  A new series of five online videos has been produced, and these are available at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLltgannkj2UHEc7ELQpgT6--mN4PRmzpU

Belfast Men’s Health Group has recently branched out into the world of podcasting, and have set-up their own channel at: https://belfastmenshealthgroup.podbean.com  The first two clips feature Professor Joe O'Sullivan (Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast) and Dr Mark Davies, (Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust).

To mark International Men's Day (IMD) on the 19th of November 2020, HSE Health and Wellbeing - supported by the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland and the National Centre for Men’s Health in IT Carlow - organised a webinar which explored the impact of COVID-19 upon the health and wellbeing of men and boys.  This free event: attracted 714 registrants; specifically focused upon the difficulties facing farmers, older men and young men; and included a mix of research presentations, personal experiences and panel discussion.  To view a recording of this event, please visit: https://youtu.be/xK0JhhlShvQ   PDF copies of the speakers’ presentations can be downloaded from: https://www.mhfi.org/coronavirus.html