International Men's Health Week (MHW) 2017 runs from Monday 12th until Sunday 18th June 2017.  The theme in Ireland this year focuses upon ‘It’s all about HIM’, and the key question is: ‘how are you doing?’  If the answer is ‘not very well’, then it’s time to join with other people to do something positive and practical about it!

Minister of State for Health Promotion, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, launched the countdown to #MHW2017 when she invited some members of the all-island Planning Group to meet her in Government Buildings, Dublin.

To find out more about the week, what's happening and how you can support it / get involved, visit: www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2017.html

 

The Association for the Study of Obesity on the island of Ireland (ASOI) is hosting its 2017 Annual Conference from 4th- 5th May 2017.  This year the focus is on Childhood Obesity and, in collaboration with the Health Behaviour Change Research Group at NUI Galway, and the ESPRIT Research Group within the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCC, there will be an expanded programme over two days with over 15 keynote speakers from 7 different countries.  Full details are availbale at: www.asoi.info

We’re nearly there.  The clock is ticking ...  it won’t be long now until International Men's Health Week (MHW).  This year, it will run from Monday 12th until Sunday 18th June 2017.  The theme in Ireland will focus upon: ‘It’s all about HIM’.  The starting point for this year’s conversation about improving the health of males is to answer the question ‘how are you doing?’...  If the answer is ‘not very well’, then it might be time to think about doing something that will make a positive difference to the health of the men and boys that you have contact with and influence over.  MHW 2017 offers a launch pad to do this.

As always, the overarching aims of MHW are to:

• Heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages.
• Support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices and activities.
• Encourage the early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males.

However, any events, activities and actions to mark this occasion are very welcome.

To find out more about the week and how you can mark it, visit: www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2017.html

At the end of March 2017, Minister for Health Promotion, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD, and Minister for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen TD, launched a public consultation on a new Healthy Workplace Framework.  The Framework will provide guidance, which can be adapted to any workplace setting, to help create and sustain healthy workplaces throughout the Republic of Ireland.  The development of the Framework is an initiative within the Healthy Ireland agenda.  Interested parties are invited to submit their views via an online survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/HealthyWorkplaceFramework or by attending a consultation workshop in Limerick (10th May 2017) or Sligo (17th May 2017).  Register for these events at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/VV25FYS

The Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) recently produced eight new videos on working with men - three for use as group work resources in the Engage National Men’s Health Training Programme and five examples of effective practice with men.  The latter five videos focused upon: (1) Men on the Move Project in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford; (2) Mojo Project in Tallaght, Dublin; (3) Kilcock Men’s Shed in Co. Kildare; (4) Men About The Town (MATT) in Newry, Co. Down; (5) The Larkin Centre in North Inner City Dublin.  All of these five short videos give a sense of why men wanted to join the projects and what they get from being there.  You can view them online at: www.youtube.com/channel/UCukqjWhGpp1SlnJkIo-0VvA/videos

MHFI is, currently, trying to recruit 100 subscribers to this YouTube Channel so that we can get a user-friendly web address.  If you have a Google Account, would you be willing to subscribe and/or ask your colleagues and friends to do so?  If so, visit: www.youtube.com/channel/UCukqjWhGpp1SlnJkIo-0VvA  and click the red ‘Subscribe’ button.

Health professionals, youth and community workers, and frontline staff are invited to apply for a place on a Gender and Health Workshop which will take place on Tuesday 9th May 2017, from 9.15am - 4.30pm, in the Regional Education Centre, Ardee, Co. Louth.  The aims of the workshop are to: explain the difference between sex and gender; explore how gender intersects with other determinants of health and can determine health status; identify how our own perceptions of gender roles can influence our attitudes and behaviours; describe roles and norms concerning masculinities and femininities; look at ways of working from a gender sensitive perspective to reduce inequity and improve health outcomes.  This training is being facilitated by Finian Murray (Development Officer for Men’s Health, HSE) and Jacqueline Healy (National Women’s Council of Ireland).  For more details, contact Orla Brady at Tel: 046 9076443  |  Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Green Ribbon month kicks off on 1st May 2017.  See Change is asking everyone to wear a green ribbon to support the movement to spark a national conversation about mental health in Ireland’s boardrooms, break-rooms, chat rooms, clubhouses, arts venues and around kitchen tables.  Are you thinking about getting your community talking about mental health for Green Ribbon month?  This year, half a million ribbons are available free of charge.  Orders will be accepted for 50 or more, with individual ribbons available from Irish Rail stations and all Boots stores throughout May.

You are invited to apply for a place on an eight week 'Male Walking Football and Health Information Project' which will commence on Tuesday 25th April 2017, from 11.00am - 12.30pm, in the Jethro Centre, Lurgan, Co. Armagh.  In addition to a weekly walking football session, there will be health checks and health information talks.  If this is something you would like to get involved in, contact Frances Haughey on Tel: 07500 772905  |  Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.