During September 2020, the Marie Keating Foundation ran a ‘Stand Up for Your Prostate’ campaign.  This sought to open-up a discussion about prostate cancer, and encourage men to seek advice from their GP if they notice any changes in their bodies or when they reach the age of 50 (or 45 with a family history of prostate cancer).  Five of Ireland’s top comedians (Des Bishop, PJ Gallagher, Danny O’Brien, Gearoid Farrelly and Al Foran) came together to encourage men to ‘step up to the mic’ when it comes to speaking about their health. You can hear their stories and find out more at: www.mariekeating.ie/standupforyourprostate2020

St Vincent's University Hospital invites you to participate in their online Stop Smoking Course.  This six week programme will: provide support; help develop skills to stop smoking; provide advice on stop smoking medications.  It will take place on Mondays, from 2nd November to 7th December 2020, between 5.30pm and 7.00pm.  For more information / to book a place, contact the Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Promotion at Tel: 01 2214958  |  Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For people undergoing cancer treatment, the opportunity to preserve fertility can be very important for quality of life in survivorship.  This webinar - being run by the Irish Cancer Society on Friday 6th November 2020 at 1.00pm - will: bring together a panel of people with lived experience, as well as fertility and healthcare experts; discuss the current situation regarding fertility preservation for cancer patients; make recommendations for the future.  Everyone is welcome to register for this free event at: https://bit.ly/353cz5l

Access to reliable COVID-related health and wellbeing evidence continues to be important in Ireland.  The Institute of Public Health has, therefore, launched a new series of factsheets which provides evidence on key public health topics.  The first factsheet focuses on Tobacco and COVID-19 (see: https://publichealth.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/COVID-19-Tobacco-Factsheet-Updated-September-2020.pdf), and this will be followed by other topics including maternal health and physical activity.

The recent issue of the International Journal of Men's Social and Community Health - which was guest edited by Prof Derek Griffith - focuses upon ‘Intersectional Approaches to Equity in Men's Health and Wellbeing’.  One of the articles in this issue centres upon middle-aged men and suicide in Ireland (see: https://ijmsch.com/index.php/IJMSCH/article/view/32).  You can also access all the articles at: https://ijmsch.com/index.php/IJMSCH/issue/view/6

Each year, See Change roll out a month long Green Ribbon Campaign to encourage people in Ireland to end mental health stigma by getting as many people as possible talking about this issue.  This year, the campaign is being run online during October 2020.  By wearing a Green Ribbon - the 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 that you can do is to let someone know you are there for them and simply listen.  Find out more at: https://seechange.ie/green-ribbon

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) invites you to their webinar on supporting young people’s sexual health and wellbeing through evidence and practice.  This event will take place on Tuesday 10th November at 1.00pm.  It will see the launch of the ESRI / Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme / HSE Health and Wellbeing research report on ‘Talking about Sex and Sexual Behaviour among Young People in Ireland’ and the related resources that encourage and support parents and children to talk together about relationships, sexuality and growing up.  Register your interest at: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7RMy6btmMk6rlranx0RnpOAPCAJ5DSZAtmg0ztdR0uRUNVAwTTFESzAwSTAxR0I0TkdHREJGV1NWTi4u

'Cruse Connects' is a project which supports men, aged 30-50, who have been bereaved and live in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area.  Some men are not very good at asking for help and support.  However, when they do, many find it valuable when coping with their grief.  Cruse has found that this is especially true when they are able to talk with their peers in an all-male group setting.  This often leads to realising that they are not alone in how they are feeling.  That solidarity can be a real breakthrough moment for many men, and creates a network of like-minded people to connect with.  Due to the continuing Covid-19 situation, this group will meet virtually.  As well as supporting each other by sharing experiences of what helps and what doesn’t, the men can shape how the group will develop when restrictions have been lifted.  For further information, contact Eleanor at Tel: 07950 531813  |  Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.