The FPSHP is a 10-day, comprehensive, capacity building programme for service providers who want to develop their confidence, skills and knowledge in the area of sexual health promotion, and to incorporate sexual health promotion into their work.  It is aimed at service providers from the health, education, community and youth sectors who have the potential and capacity to undertake Sexual Health Promotion within their organisation.  The HSE Health Promotion and Improvement, Health and Wellbeing Division, will be running this course between February and June 2020 in Galway City.  For a full description, visit: www.mhfi.org/FPSHP.pdf

The vaccination of adolescent boys in the UK has now begun.  The implementation of a universal HPV vaccination programme is an enormous step forward in public health and health equity, and will result in better health and wellbeing outcomes for both sexes.  However, there is no ‘catch-up’ programme for boys who are too old to receive the vaccination when they are in Year 8 in England and Wales, Year S1 in Scotland or Year 9 in Northern Ireland.  An opportunity is being missed to protect a very significant number of boys who will otherwise be left at risk of HPV-caused diseases.  HPV Action outlines the case for a catch-up vaccination programme for boys at: www.hpvaction.org/news/hpv-action-sets-out-its-case-for-a-catch-up-vaccination-programme-for-boys

In October 2019, the HSE launched the 24/7 YourMentalHealth Freephone.  This offers signposting to mental health support and services - provided by both the HSE and their funded partners across the country.  This is not a counselling service, but a member of the team can tell you about where, how and when to access local support services across the Republic of Ireland.  The Freephone number is: 1800 742 444.

Are you between 18 and 40 years of age; were you born and raised in Ireland; and have experienced suicide ideation, self-harm, or attempted suicide in your adolescence or adulthood?  If so, a PhD researcher at Dublin City University would like to invite you to take part in a study focusing upon your experience of growing-up in Ireland.  The purpose of this study is to explore the meanings and understandings that men give to their experience of adolescence while growing up in Ireland.  The study will require participants to take part in an hour long (approximately) audio-recorded interview at a suitable time and venue.  Alternatively, the interview can be conducted by video-link if preferred.  Participation will be confidential, and anonymity will be protected at all stages of the study.  For more information, contact Brian Holohan (the researcher) at: 087 1849418.

The International Journal of Men’s Social and Community Health is seeking to publish a special themed issue of the Journal focusing on how we can utilise an intersectional lens to more systematically conceptualise, design and implement strategies to achieve equity in men’s health and well-being.  The goal of this special issue is to bring together scholars who are using an intersectional lens to advance men’s health and well-being to promote men’s health equity.  This issue will include conceptual papers and qualitative, quantitative, and intervention research that illustrate the importance of, and how to use, an intersectional lens to advance men’s health and well-being. The Guest Editor and Journal are especially interested in papers that demonstrate how to incorporate intersectionality in programmes or policies to improve men’s health and achieve men’s health equity.  Find out more about how to submit a paper at: http://ijmsch.com/index.php/IJMSCH/announcement/view/1

These tables detail the number of suicides registered each year in Northern Ireland and provide additional information on age, sex, geographical area and time taken to register the death.  They have been produced as an addendum to the Annual Report of the Registrar General.  See: www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/suicide-statistics

In the autumn 2019, Global Action on Men's Health (GAMH) hosted a webinar for NGOs and men's health advocates to discuss how they can use the WHO Europe Men’s Health Strategy as an advocacy tool.  This took place on the 20th of September 2019.  The speakers included Isabel Yordi Aguirre (WHO Europe) who introduced the Men's Health Strategy, Alan White (Emeritus Professor of Men's Health, Leeds Beckett University UK), Dr Noel Richardson (National Centre for Men's Health, Ireland), Dr Svend Aage Madsen (President of the Men's Health Society in Denmark), and Nikki van der Gaag (Promundo).  An audio recording of the webinar is available at: https://youtu.be/BwXWsG4oras

Congratulations to Belfast Men's Health Group who raised £942.62 for the 'Friends of the Cancer Centre' after doing a Spinathon on International Men’s Day 2020.  This event provided an ideal opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity to cancer prevention in men.  It also supported the work of a great practical action group.