International Men's Health Week (MHW) begins on Monday 10th June and runs until Sunday 16th June 2019 (Father’s Day).  Each year, there is a specific theme.  During 2019, the theme for the island of Ireland is 'Men’s Health Matters' and everyone is being asked to make the time and take the time to do something realistic and practical to improve both their own health and the health of the men and boys that they have contact with.  However, not everybody knows about MHW, what it hopes to do, why it needs to happen, or how they can get involved.  That’s why there is a Men’s Health Week 2019 'Toolbox for Action'.  This Q&A style resource can be downloaded at: www.mhfi.org/mhw2019toolbox.pdf

Absolutely everyone can do something to support and celebrate Men’s Health Week (MHW) 2019.  The focus for this year (i.e. ‘Men’s Health Matters’) lends itself to a wide range of ways to mark this occasion.  However, you don’t have to stick rigidly to this particular topic.  Anything which encourages men and boys to lead healthier lifestyles, to be more aware of preventable health problems, and to seek early detection and treatment for health difficulties will be very welcome.  There are many simple, easy and cost-free ways to get involved.  For ideas, download a copy of the paper on what you can do to mark MHW 2019 at: www.mhfi.org/mhw2019celebrateit.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) has been distributed by the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) to mark Men’s Health Week 2019.   This poses ten simple and practical health challenges to men and, to meet every challenge, it offers three choices.  All 15,000 hard copies of this manual have now been given out.  However, electronic copies can still be downloaded from the MHFI website at: www.mhfi.org/challenges2019.pdf  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 keep everyone up-to-date with the latest news on Men’s Health Week (MHW) 2019 - as well as more general developments in the field of men’s work - check out Facebook (www.facebook.com/MensHealthWeek) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/MensHealthIRL).  However, as all social networkers know, pages such as these are no use unless they have a lot of Fans / Followers.  That’s where your help is needed! ...  Please visit the pages, click on the ‘LIKE’ button for Facebook and ‘FOLLOW’ button for Twitter, and send the link to all your friends.  If you’re really into it, please Tweet about MHW 2019, and include the hashtag #MensHealthWeek in your message.  To make things easy, a pool of ready-made ‘Posts’ and ‘Tweets’ is available at: www.mhfi.org/Tweets2019.pdf

Every year there are hundreds (possibly even thousands) of events throughout Ireland to celebrate Men’s Health Week (MHW).  Some of these are well publicised, but most are only known about by a few people.  This year, the Men's Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) has a section on this website to promote the details of any activities or events that are being held throughout Ireland during Men’s Health Week 2019.  This will help everyone to find out what is happening during the week, where it will take place, and how to join in.  It will also give some recognition and publicity to all those groups across Ireland that are doing something for and with men.  Your activity might be health checks, or a conference, or a launch, or a game, or a seminar, or a competition, or a workshop, or a lunch, or a course, or a drama, or a display, or a health fair ...  Whatever it is, if you would like to have the details included on this website, please complete and submit a MHW Event Form at: www.mhfi.org/mhw/promote-an-event.html  Other submission options are available at: www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2019.html#TellOthers

The impact on sexual wellbeing for men and their partners who have been treated for prostate cancer has been widely recognised as a significant unmet need.  A collaborative team of researchers, support organisations, and patient volunteers has developed two online resources to address this important gap: (1) The online self-management resource (for men and partners) can be accessed at home.  This provides personalised information, support and strategies to help men cope with sexual challenges after treatment for prostate cancer.  It also includes specific information for single men, younger men, and black men who have been diagnosed and treated for Prostate Cancer.  This resource can be accessed at: http://prostate.lifeguidewebsites.org   (2) The e-learning resource (for healthcare professionals) has been developed to increase awareness of sexual care needs, promote routine sexual care engagement and provide the language, structure and content to guide conversations around sexual wellbeing.  It can be accessed at: http://talkingaboutsex-prostatecancer.org

This Fathers' Day, everyone is invited to South Park, Galway City, to fly a kite for men and boys' mental health.  The idea is to create a powerful visual spectacle of support for the men and boys in our lives.  The event takes place at South Park ('The Swamp') at Noon on Sunday 16th June 2019, and will last for about one hour.  Kites are available to buy on the day, with all proceeds going to local youth mental health charity ‘Jigsaw’.  People are also welcome to bring their own kites or to simply come along and enjoy the spectacle.  This event seeks to raise awareness of the disproportionate number of men who take their own lives each year as well as remembering those who have lost their lives in the River Corrib.  Flying a kite on the 16th of June is a way to acknowledge that many men are finding it difficult to communicate when they are struggling, worried or having a hard time.  The hope is that this event will kick-start new conversations, let men and boys know that it's OK to talk openly about how they feel, and shine more light on men's emotional needs.  The organisers are aiming to get 300 kites in the sky and, while this issue is a serious one, they would like those taking part to have fun as well.

The World Health Statistics Overview 2019, from the World Health Organisation, uses a sex and gender lens to monitor health in relation to its Sustainable Development Goals.  Read the online report at: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/311696/WHO-DAD-2019.1-eng.pdf?