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 2020 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 15th until Sunday 21st June 2020.

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 2020? …  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 took place on Friday 29th November 2019, and the second gathering will happen on Monday 27th January 2020 in Dundalk, Co. Louth.  Even if you cannot make the meetings, 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 2020 (in any way), email Colin Fowler at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

However, even if this is not possible, why not put the dates of MHW 2020 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!

In 2016, in-depth research was conducted into the experiences and needs of young men aged 18-24 imprisoned in Hydebank Wood College in Belfast.  It included: nine months of participant observation within the institution; the researcher participating in educational classes, recreational activities and association; twenty-six semi-structured interviews with young men; and six interviews with prison officers and support staff.  'Do Your Whack: Investigating the needs and experiences of young men imprisoned in Northern Ireland' is an ARK Policy Brief which highlights the key findings of this research and examines the implications for policy.  Download a copy at: www.ark.ac.uk/ARK/sites/default/files/2019-11/policybrief13_0.pdf

The Healthy Ireland Survey is an annual interviewer-administered face-to-face survey commissioned by the Department of Health.  It is part of the Healthy Ireland Framework to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Ireland.  This report provides an overview of results from the fifth wave of this survey.  The fifth wave consisted of 7,413 interviews conducted with a representative sample of the population, aged 15 and older, living in Ireland.  Respondents were selected using a probability-based methodology and interviewed in their homes.  You can download the report at: https://assets.gov.ie/41141/e5d6fea3a59a4720b081893e11fe299e.pdf

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