This free programme is open to all men and offers: weekly health information talks; physical activity sessions; dedicated staff to support you with your goals; health checks.  It will run for ten weeks - every Thursday, at 7.00pm, from 10th January to 14th March 2019 - and will be held in Banbridge Leisure Centre, Banbridge, Co. Down.  If you are interested in hearing more, contact Frances Haughey (Health Improvement Officer, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council) at Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  |  Tel: 07500 772905.

The School of Nursing and Midwifery, in partnership with See Change, are delighted to welcome Professor Sir Graham Thornicroft to Trinity College Dublin.  Prof Thornicroft will deliver a free public lecture which will explore the issues that people with mental health difficulties experience around disclosure, and will offer some strategies to help people to manage information about their mental distress.  This lecture will take place on Thursday 29th November 2018, at 5.15pm, and is open to anyone who has an interest in mental health - including service users and service providers.  Find out more at: www.eventbrite.ie/e/full-disclosure-should-i-open-up-about-my-mental-health-difficulties-tickets-51451970228

The SEDACT ‘Dry January’ / ‘Feel Good February’ grant scheme for 2019 is now open.  Groups within the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust area are welcome to apply for a grant up to £500 to run activities to mark Dry January and Feel Good February.  The activities must be aimed at over-18s, be run during January or February, and promote the key messages behind the campaign.  The closing date for applications is 4.00pm on Friday 30th November 2018.  For more information / an application form, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For twenty years, ARK has been recording public attitudes to key social issues in Northern Ireland.  The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey began in 1998 and focuses on the opinions of adults.  In 2003, Young Life and Times began monitoring the attitudes of 16 year olds, whilst Kids' Life and Times started recording the opinions of 10-11 year olds in 2008.  These data provide authoritative, independent and statistically-robust evidence which is freely accessible to everyone.  You are invited to an event in Belfast on Tuesday 27th November 2018 (4.00pm - 5.00pm) which will: celebrate the wealth of data provided by the surveys; launch a publication which outlines public attitudes to key social issues over time; highlight the major contribution that the surveys have provided to policy making in Northern Ireland.  This event is free of charge, but places need to be booked by Tuesday 20th November, by emailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

International Men's Day (IMD) takes place on the 19th of November each year.  This day offers an opportunity for everyone to celebrate the important contribution that men and boys make to their families, friends, communities, workplaces, society and the world.  However, it is also a time to highlight some of the key issues facing males, and to provide practical support and positive encouragement to overcome these.  Keep an eye out for IMD activities and events in your area.

The Health and Social Care Business Services Organisation has published its Family Practitioner Services Statistics for Northern Ireland 2017-18.  The report contains high level summary information on activity and payments in relation to General Medical, General Dental, Ophthalmic and Pharmaceutical Services.  Information is provided at Northern Ireland level, with further breakdowns presented at both Local Commissioning Group (LCG) and Local Government District (LGD) level.  The publication is available on the Business Services Organisation’s website at: www.hscbusiness.hscni.net/services/2990.htm

The Health Service Executive and Men’s Development Network invite you to join with leading Irish men and women to talk about the need for gender equality and to highlight the International White Ribbon campaign.  This event will take place on Monday 19th November 2018, from 10.00am - 1.00pm, in Dr Steevens' Hospital, Dublin.  To book a place, visit: www.eventbrite.ie/e/white-ribbon-ireland-seminar-tickets-52207779875

In recent years, the health and wellbeing of men has received increasing attention in the WHO European Region.  A key trigger for this attention has been the high level of premature mortality among men - particularly in Eastern Europe.  However, the focus on men’s health has also been driven by a growing body of evidence that provides a better understanding of how gender intersects with social, economic, environmental, political and cultural determinants which influence exposure to risk factors and interactions with health systems.  At a meeting of the WHO Europe Regional Committee in Rome on 19th September 2018, the delegates approved a new men's health strategy which aims to inform action by Member States to improve men’s health and wellbeing while promoting gender equality.  Find out more at: www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/378165/68wd12e_MensHealthStrategy_180480.pdf?ua=1