During Men’s Health Week 2020, Global Action on Men’s Health (GAMH) launched a new report titled: 'From the Margins to the Mainstream: Advocating the inclusion of men’s health in policy'.  This examines the policy response to men’s health to date, the barriers to policy development, the currently-available opportunities and, most importantly, the policy priorities and the next steps necessary for their achievement through effective advocacy.  Download a copy of the report at: http://gamh.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/From-the-Margins-to-The-Mainstream-Report.pdf

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland is inviting you to take part in an online, anonymous, international survey to help understand how people are coping during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The survey has been developed by the International Loneliness and Social Isolation Research Network (I-LINK) that includes the Institute of Public Health along with Ulster University, Trinity College Dublin and Maynooth University, as well as colleagues from the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.  The study seeks to learn about the issues people are facing, and how they are managing with social distancing and changes to everyday life - so gaining valuable insights into life before and during the Covid-19 pandemic, including key challenges and coping strategies.  If you would be willing to participate in this survey, visit: https://bit.ly/36PxDg1

On Thursday 27th August 2020, the HSE Obesity Management Clinical Programme is hosting the second annual Obesity Summer School - which will be held virtually this year.  This online event is supported and hosted by the HSE and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, and will combine public information seminars with a range of topics for health care professionals.  The day will run from 10.00am - 2.30pm.  Registration is free, and open to all people living with, or interested in, overweight and obesity - including members of the public, healthcare professionals and policy makers.  Find out more / register at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/hse-virtual-obesity-summer-school-2020-registration-114256068978

It's #MensHealthWeek 2020 and time to start #RestoringTheBalance ...

 

We’re now only days away from International Men's Health Week (MHW), which begins on Monday 15th June and runs until Sunday 21st June 2020 (Father’s Day).

2020 has been an exceptional year in many ways.  As the island of Ireland emerges from, what might be, the first wave of COVID-19, individuals across the country are trying to re-build their lives, relationships, jobs, finances, physical health, emotional resilience, connections and routines.  Some people are still living with trauma and bereavement.  Others are having to re-focus their priorities and to find new ways of living.  Everyone's mental health has been impacted to some degree, and there is a need to find some new form of stable, realistic and relevant equilibrium - at least in the short-term.  However, as these have been almost unprecedented times, this process is likely to be slow, gradual and incremental.

This is why the theme chosen for Men's Health Week 2020 on the island of Ireland is 'Restoring the Balance'.  To make this happen, everyone needs to ‘be part of the solution’, and to do something practical to improve both their own health and the health of the men and boys that they have contact with.

As always, the overarching aims of MHW are to:

- Heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages.
- Support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices and activities.
- Encourage the early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males.

However, any and all activities / actions to mark this occasion are very welcome.

To find out more about the week, visit: www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2020.html

Not everybody knows yet about Men’s Health Week (MHW), what it hopes to do, why it needs to happen, or how they can get involved.  That’s why there is a MHW 2020 ‘Toolbox for Action’.  This Q&A style resource can be downloaded at: www.mhfi.org/mhw2020toolbox.pdf

There’s no denying that the state of men’s health on the island of Ireland is often poor.  However, there are things which can be done to change this situation and men, themselves, can play a key role in doing this.  A free, 32 page, Man Manual (based upon the ‘Haynes Manual’ model) is being distributed by the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) to mark Men’s Health Week 2020.   This poses ten simple and practical health challenges to men and, to meet every challenge, it offers three choices.

Almost all of the 15,000 hard copies of this manual have now been given out, but a small number still remain.  In the Republic of Ireland, hard copies can be ordered online via the HealthPromotion.ie website at www.healthpromotion.ie   In Northern Ireland, they can be ordered from the Men's Health Forum in Ireland via the contact form.  Electronic copies can be downloaded by clicking here.

The publication of this booklet has only been possible because of the generous support given by the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland, the Health Promotion and Improvement Department within the Health Service Executive in the Republic of Ireland, and the author - Dr Ian Banks.

To promote #MensHealthWeek (MHW) 2020, a bespoke poster has been designed.  The 'face' of MHW this year is a father and son - Chris and Ethan Smylie - from Belfast.  Anyone who has ever learned to ride a bike will appreciate that it's all about GETTING THE BALANCE right.  However, to get the confidence to do this, you need the support and assistance of people around you that you can trust and rely on.  Chris and Ethan really capture this relationship in their photograph!

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic - and the limited opportunities to place posters in public places this year - the posters are only available as online electronic files (in a range of sizes and formats suitable for a variety of uses).  Copies of these online electronic resources can be downloaded from: www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-image-pack.html#Poster2020

Even people who don't have time to do anything else for MHW 2020 are encouraged to print off and put up a poster (in their workplace, home window or elsewhere) to let everyone know when it is taking place.  Although this costs little to do, it could make a big difference to promoting the week!