In this, their 30th Anniversary Year, HIV Ireland will be running a conference which will explore the history of HIV, stigma and social inclusion within the areas of addiction, homelessness, sex work, the LGBT community, the migrant community and, specifically, people living with HIV in Ireland since 1987.  They will also be launching Ireland’s first National HIV Stigma Survey since 2007.  The conference is titled 'HIV, Social Inclusion, Stigma and Social Policy', and will take place on Thursday 28th September 2017, in the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin.

Mojo is a 12 week training programme - developed by a collective of organisations - to reduce the high level of male suicide in Ireland.  In the programme, men learn to build their mental and physical fitness, while developing the ability to engage with local services, set goals and develop a life plan.  The next Mojo programme for South Dublin will start on 20th September 2017 (with registration on 13th September).  The target group is men who have been directly affected by the recession and employment issues, and who are: 18 years or older; motivated to change; keen to get their Mojo back; willing to participate in a 12 week programme (2 mornings per week); able to take personal responsibility.  Participation on this course does not affect social welfare benefits.  To find out more, call Catherine Mooney on Tel: 087 1471152 or 01 4649300 | Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  |  Visit: www.mojo-programme.org

This 30 week City and Guilds accredited course will begin in October 2017, and take place in the North West Regional College, Strand Road, Derry / Londonderry on Wednesdays from 5.30pm - 9.30pm.  The focus of the qualification is on working with adults, aged 18 - 65 years, who are in contact with mental health care and support services.  The course will provide an opportunity for individuals to reflect upon their own experience as practitioners in order to enhance their practice, skills and knowledge in the area of mental health care.  Elements covered will include: mental wellbeing; mental health promotion; mental health problems; interventions; the legal, policy and service framework in mental health; care, support, planning and risk management; effective communication and building relationships; enabling service users and carers to manage change; effective team and joint working.  For further information, contact Margaret McChrystal at Tel: 02871 276173  |  Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The goal of the Tennessee Men's Health Report Card is to monitor the health and wellbeing of men in Tennessee, USA, and to inform strategies to improve the health of men in the state.  Following the 2010, 2012 and 2014 editions, this fourth edition of the Report Card continues to distinguish Tennessee as the only state in the USA that has regularly published such a document to guide the planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes and policies to improve men's health.  The 2017 Report Card presents data collected by the Tennessee Department of Health and the U.S. Census Bureau.  Wouldn't it be great to have a similar progress monitoring tool on the island of Ireland? ...

Suicide rates among those employed in male-dominated professions such as construction are elevated compared to other occupational groups.  To date, research has been mainly quantitative and has been unable to identify the complex range of risk and protective factors that surround these suicides.  This study used a national coronial database to qualitatively study suicide amongst male construction workers in Australia.  It found that the risk factors included work-related issues such as job insecurity, transient working conditions and fear of legal prosecution in relation to debt and conduct at work.  Substance issues, alcohol use and mental health issues were also prominent, as were family breakdown and the lack of access to children.  The findings from the study are available online at: www.bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-017-4500-8

On Thursday 20th July 2017, the Irish Men's Sheds Association will be officially launching their new men's health website called 'Spanner in the Works?'  This will offer information on every aspect of the male body - from head to toe - as well as signposting to sources of advice and support.  You can check it out at: www.malehealth.ie

Suicide disproportionately affects men, who are less likely to access support through traditional routes.  Increasingly, imaginative initiatives are being developed to support vulnerable men at risk of suicide.  One approach is the use of creative media such as moving image arts.  This PhD study (within the School of Nursing and Midwifery in Queen's University Belfast) will gather interdisciplinary expertise to examine the theoretical potential for creative media interventions which can increase mental health literacy, improve resilience, and reduce the risk of suicide in men in the United Kingdom and Canada.  For more information on this initiative, visit: www.qub.ac.uk/Study/PostgraduateStudy/FundingandScholarships/Doctoral-Training-Centres/spark/Creativemediaasavehicleforreductionofsuicideriskinmen  See: www.qub.ac.uk/Study/PostgraduateStudy/FundingandScholarships/Doctoral-Training-Centres/spark for details of how to apply.  The closing date for applications has been extended to Friday 11th August 2017.

You are invited to an Open Night and Barbeque in the Mojo Men’s Shed, St Thomas' Parish Centre, Jobstown, Tallght, Dublin, on Wednesday 12th July 2017, at 7.30pm.  This is an event for any man (aged 18+) who would like to see what this Shed is all about and/or who'd like to become a member.  The things the lads do in the Shed include: horticulture, pool / darts, woodwork, volunteering, being an advocate for men's health in the community, committee work, trips, walking, hosting open nights / BBQs, training to become 'Mojo Listeners' in the community, supporting the Mojo programme, education on wellbeing, art, and having lots and lots of cups of tea!  For more information, contact Danny on 087 7938489 or Paddy on 085 7516038.