Bowel Cancer UK in Northern Ireland is looking for volunteers who have been affected by bowel cancer to give short talks in their local area about the disease in order to raise awareness of Northern Ireland’s second biggest cancer killer.  The talks, usually held in nearby workplaces, community groups or anywhere an existing group comes together, will raise awareness of the disease, signs and symptoms, risk factors and the screening programme, as well as highlighting the volunteers' own experience.  Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in Northern Ireland.  Over 1,100 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year and around 400 people die from the disease.  Yet, it is treatable and curable - especially if diagnosed early.  If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tel: 07798 523668.

Men’s high suicide rates have been linked to individual risk factors including history of being abused as a child, single marital status, and financial difficulties.  While it has also been suggested that the normative influences of hegemonic masculinities are implicated in men’s suicide, the gendered experiences of male suicidality are poorly understood.  In this study, twenty men who previously had suicidal thoughts, plans, and/or attempts were interviewed, as a means to better understand the connections between masculinities and their experiences of suicidality.  Read more at: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1557988316679576

The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is legislation designed to tackle Ireland’s harmful relationship with alcohol.  It aims to reduce the damage that alcohol causes to individuals, families and society by reducing our alcohol consumption - with a particular focus on protecting children and young people from alcohol harm.  You can find out more about the Bill and how to make your voice heard at: http://alcoholireland.ie/campaigns/bill

The list of conference speakers and posters for the 5th Annual Male Psychology Conference has just been announced.  This event will take place on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd June 2018, and is being held in University College London.  Full details are available at: www.malepsychology.org.uk/the-conference-2018

Women in almost all modern populations live longer than men.  Research, to date, provides evidence for both biological and social factors influencing this gender gap.  However, the outcomes when both men and women experience extremely high levels of mortality risk has been an unexplored area.  This study investigates the survival of both sexes, in seven populations, under extreme conditions including famine, epidemics and slavery.  It shows that women survived better than men.  In all populations, they had lower mortality across almost all ages and, with the exception of one slave population, they lived longer on average than men.  For more details, visit: www.pnas.org/content/pnas/early/2018/01/03/1701535115.full.pdf

EdgeFest at the MAC in Belfast is a mini-theatre festival featuring plays (produced in collaboration with Prime Cut Productions and Tinderbox Theatre) which explore male mental health issues.  To support the importance of the themes dealt with in the plays, there are also free talks and workshops.  Find more details at: www.themaclive.com/whats-on

SORRY, BUT ALL THE PLACES AT THIS EVENT WERE BOOKED WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF IT BEING ANNOUNCED AND THERE IS NOW A LONG WAITING LIST.  ABSTRACTS FOR PRESENTATIONS ARE, HOWEVER, STILL BEING ACCEPTED ...

You are invited to apply for a place at a Men’s Health Symposium which is being organised as part of the ‘Healthy Ireland - Men’ Action Plan.  This event, titled ‘Men in the Middle’, will explore men’s health and wellbeing during middle-age, and will …

1. Launch a report on findings from Year 1 of the ‘Middle-Aged Men and Mental Health Project’ research.
2. Present key data on the health and wellbeing of middle-aged men in Ireland.
3. Highlight new / current research which focuses upon the target age group.
4. Showcase some practical examples of what is happening to support middle-aged men across Ireland.
5. Feature internationally recognised experts in the field of men’s health.

The Symposium will take place on Thursday 15th March 2018, from 9.30am - 3.30pm, in Dr Steevens' Hospital, Dublin 8.  It is free to attend.  However, all places must be booked in advance.

Find out more at: www.mhfi.org/Symposium2018Info.pdf and apply for a place using the registration form at: www.mhfi.org/Symposium2018.doc   Please note that there is also a call for researchers to submit an abstract to present at this Symposium.  More details can be found at: www.mhfi.org/Symposium2018Abstract.pdf

The Southern Area Men's Health Steering Group invites you to their annual seminar which will be held on the morning of Friday 23rd March 2018, in the Palace Demesne, Armagh City.  This year's event is called 'The Main Man (and Woman)' and it will: encourage participants to see why men’s health issues need to be addressed; offer a practical example of how men can be effectively engaged; explore what participants could realistically offer in their own settings to support men's health and wellbeing.  This event will be of interest to anyone who has male workers, volunteers or participants within their setting, and who would like to help to improve the health of these people.  To find out more and/or to book a place see: www.mhfi.org/SAMH2018.pdf