Boys and men are diverse with respect to their race, ethnicity, culture, migration status, age, socio-economic status, ability status, sexual orientation, gender identity and religious affiliation.  Each of these social identities contribute uniquely and in intersecting ways to shape how men experience and perform their masculinities which, in turn, contribute to relational, psychological, and behavioural health outcomes in both positive and negative ways.  Although boys and men, as a group, tend to hold privilege and power based on gender, they also demonstrate disproportionate rates of receiving harsh discipline, academic challenges, mental health issues, physical health problems, substance abuse, incarceration and early mortality - as well as a wide variety of other quality-of-life issues.  Additionally, many men do not seek help when they need it, and many report distinctive barriers to receiving gender-sensitive psychological treatment.  To meet this challenge, the American Psychological Association has issued guidelines to help psychologists to work with men and boys.  You can see these at: www.apa.org/about/policy/boys-men-practice-guidelines.pdf   Dr John Barry - from the Male Psychology Network - offers some alternatives to the new APA guidelines at: https://malepsychology.org.uk/2019/01/10/is-there-an-alternative-to-the-new-apa-guidelines-for-working-with-men-and-boys

The Pan American Journal of Public Health published a special issue on men's health in December 2018.  You can read it at: www.paho.org/journal/en/special-issues/mens-health

Action on Hearing Loss Northern Ireland is part of the ‘Hear to Inform and Connect’ project which seeks to ensure that older people (over 50) with hearing loss feel better informed about how to manage their hearing loss and where to access support in their local area.  The information teams also work with care homes, community groups and local organisations that provide services or support for older people, to help them to make their services more accessible and inclusive.  To find out more, call Paula McAnulty on 02890 239619 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Based on empirical sociological research, this article explores how some Irish men’s recreational use of illicit drugs, masculinities and friendship interconnect.  Drawing on in-depth interviews with twenty Irish men who identified as recreational users of illicit drugs, the article examines men’s drug-taking within homosocial contexts as a friendship practice.  By conceptualising masculinities as relational, socially constructed and fluid, the article examines social aspects of men’s drug-taking as part of a pattern of gender practices used to establish, maintain and affirm men’s friendships.  The findings of the research demonstrate that men’s recreational use of illicit drugs forms part of the social practices of friendship among drug-taking men, and men’s understandings of masculinity in turn influence these social practices.  You can access this journal article at: https://amityjournal.leeds.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/127/2019/02/Darcy-2018.pdf

How do you feel about the provision of childcare in Northern Ireland? ...  Employers For Childcare has launched its 2019 Childcare Cost Survey for parents and childcare providers and they particularly want to hear the views of men.  This survey gives you the opportunity to have your voice heard by Government.  Last year’s results revealed that for two thirds of families here, the childcare bill is their largest or second largest monthly outgoing; whilst the average weekly cost of a full-time childcare place was £166.  To share your experience of using or providing childcare, click on the relevant link and complete a short online questionnaire: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ChildcareCostParents2019  [Parent Survey] or www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ChildcareProvider2019  [Childcare Provider Survey].

The Southern Childcare Partnership invites you to a men in childcare event titled: 'Jobs for the Boys: Why Male Practitioners are Important in Children’s Lives'.  This will take place on 31st January 2019, from 9.30am - 1.30pm, in the EPI Centre, Armagh BT61 7HF.  For more details and a booking form, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

It is important for employers and employees to know about their legislative rights and responsibilities in relation to mental health at work. The EAP Institute is organising three seminars across Ireland to explore ‘Designing Employee Support Services for Workplace Mental Health’. These will take place on Thursday 31st January 2019 (Dublin), Thursday 28th February 2019 (Kilkenny) and Thursday 21st March 2019 (Galway). Full details can be found at: www.eapinstitute.com/workplacerisks.php

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone in the Men's Health Forum in Ireland!

However, we know that the holidays can often be a stressful and worrying time for many people.  Therefore, please remember that if you need help and support over the Christmas period, you can always contact ...

• The Samaritans (all Ireland) - Freephone 116 123
• Pieta House (RoI) - Freephone 1800 247 247
• Lifeline (NI) - Freephone 0808 808 8000

or visit: www2.hse.ie/get-urgent-help  |  www.mindingyourhead.info