Men’s health issues and needs are numerous and complicated.  So much so, that we could probably assign a different one to highlight on each day of the year and still have an outstanding pool of ones to explore!  However, when preparing for Men’s Health Week (MHW) 2024, the all-island Planning Group felt that it would be useful to draw attention to a specific theme on each day during the week, as well as announce the final countdown to MHW during the week before.

The focus of each day will be ...

-  Friday 7th June:  Know your numbers - because men's health counts
-  Monday 10th June:  Trash the ash (and save the cash)
-  Tuesday 11th June:  Prevention is better than cure
-  Wednesday 12th June:  Food for thought
-  Thursday 13th June:  Rethink what you drink
-  Friday 14th June:  Be mind fit
-  Saturday 15th June:  Let’s get physical - be more than a sports spectator
-  Sunday 16th June:  Father's Day - the important role of fathers in their children's lives

Social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok) offers a powerful tool for organisations to spread their message.  During Men’s Health Week 2024, everyone is encouraged to ‘Post’ and ‘Tweet’ about it and, when possible, to use the hashtags: #MensHealthWeek  |  #KnowYourNumbers  |  #MensHealthCounts

To support this, a range of social media graphics are also available.

For those people who would like to support MHW 2024 using their own social media channels - but who don't have the time, energy or knowledge to develop their own messages - a ready-made pool of Posts and Tweets that you can simply cut-and-paste from will be available online just before the week begins.  Keep an eye to www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2024.html#Tweet for more details closer to the week.

Even loading a few things to social media platforms makes a huge difference to publicising the week.  This is, therefore, an easy and free way to show support for MHW.

 

 

 

To keep everyone up-to-date with the latest news on Men’s Health Week (MHW) 2024 - 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 / Likes.  That’s where your help is needed! ...  Don’t forget to send the links to all your friends.  If you’re really into it, please Tweet about MHW 2024 yourself, and include one or more of the hashtags #MensHealthWeek  |  #KnowYourNumbers  |  #MensHealthCounts in your messages.

Tuesday 14th May 2024 marked the release of findings from the 2023 Northern Ireland Life and Times survey.  This event (with Professor Siobhan O’Neill and Dr Nicole Bond from the Office of the Mental Health Champion) focused on the experience of accessing mental health support in Northern Ireland.  See the video recording of this event at: https://www.ark.ac.uk/ARK/node/1032

Health Minister, Robin Swann, recently launched a new bereavement support website for Northern Ireland.  Bereaved NI can be accessed at https://bereaved.hscni.net  It provides a range of accessible resources for people who are experiencing bereavement, to ensure that they have the required information and support for each stage of their bereavement journey.  The website includes: information relating to palliative care, pregnancy and baby loss; resources for children and young people; information for people who have been bereaved by suicide and those who have suffered a sudden or traumatic loss; and practical support including financial and legal advice.

The benefits of regular physical activity, at moderate to vigorous levels, for our overall health are immense.  It improves our heart health, reduces the risk of developing cancer and chronic diseases such a type-2 diabetes, as well as improves our mood and sleep.  The Health Service Executive and Department of Health in the Republic of Ireland have recently launched their new Every Move Counts - National Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines.  Find out more at: https://tinyurl.com/mr29p8cs

In the latest HSE 'Talking Health and Wellbeing' Podcast, Seán Cooke - from the Men's Development Network - discusses the organisation's initiatives to improve men's health and wellbeing.  Listen in at: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-f22aw-15e1103

Men’s mental health problems are clear.  Globally, the rate of suicide in men is more than twice as high as in women.  Men consume nearly four times more pure alcohol per capita than women.  Many men attach stigma to mental health issues and often do not seek help.  Men may also ‘externalise’ their distress through behaviour that is anti-social or aggressive.  Yet, at the same time, common mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, often remain under-diagnosed and under-treated in men.  Global Action on Men’s Health has just released a report titled 'Absent Minded' which examines the treatment of men in mental health policy worldwide.  See the report and the launch video at: https://gamh.org/absent-minded

New research, ‘Use of Pornography by Young Adults in Ireland’, published in March 2024 by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), has found that online pornography use in Ireland is highly gendered - with 64% of young men and 13% of young women reporting use.  Read the report at: https://tinyurl.com/mw2hezdy