Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting our health and social care system.  Buckner and Yeandle (2015) estimated that the support provided by the 220,500 carers in Northern Ireland is £4.6 billion per year.  This is similar to the entire 2016/17 Stormont health budget.  ‘The Impact of Caring’ is a Research Update produced by ARK which draws upon data from the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey, and focuses upon the impact of caring on carers.  It sets the data in the context of recent and forthcoming policy developments.  To download this document, visit: www.ark.ac.uk/publications/updates/update109.pdf

Researchers at Ulster University are set to lead a pioneering international research programme which aims to improve the sexual health of men, and their partners, after a prostate cancer diagnosis.  Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and treatments can lead to a number of physical and emotional challenges.  In Northern Ireland, there are over 8,000 men living with and after prostate cancer, and there are over 330,000 men living with the disease UK-wide.  More than three quarters of those who have had treatment for prostate cancer report experiencing erectile dysfunction.  This three year study will see the creation of new flexible support packages designed to address individual needs and empower men and their partners to manage their sexual health challenges prior to and after treatment.  The resources include: a web-based sexual recovery programme for men and their partners; an engagement tool to ensure quality communication between health professionals and men and their partners; an online sexual health training programme for health professionals caring for men living with prostate cancer.  The research will be led by Professor Eilís McCaughan at Ulster University’s Institute of Nursing and Health Research alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre, Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, University of Surrey, University of Southampton, University of Michigan and University of Toronto.

Action Cancer is running a group support programme called the ‘Positive Living Programme’ on 25th and 26th February 2017 in the White Horse Hotel, Derry / Londonderry.  This is a free two day programme aimed at supporting individuals and family members who have been impacted by cancer.  The programme helps participants to reflect on their cancer journey and to learn new ways to cope.  If you are interested in attending, please call Mary Morrow on Tel: 0781 3044178.  In addition, Action Cancer provide 1:1 counselling and complementary therapies to any child/adult impacted by cancer.  In the North West area, they work in partnership with the Pink Ladies, Derry Well Women and LCDI to provide these services in five different venues in Derry / Londonderry, Limavady and Strabane.  To avail of these services, Tel: 02890 803344.

You are invited to a seminar which will be held on Wednesday 1st February 2017, from 12.30pm to 2.00pm, in Seminar Room 21D51, Dalriada House, Ulster University at Jordanstown.  Dr Heleen Touquet is a researcher and lecturer at the University of Leuven (KUL) in Belgium and a research associate at the Centre d'Etudes de Conflits et Crises Internationaux at the Universite de Louvain La Neuve.   Her current research focuses on gender, masculinities and sexual violence in conflict.  Dr Touquet will talk about male victims of sexual violence during the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  She will focus, specifically, on how the discursive space for talking about the topic has evolved over the last ten years and how (some) male victims have got recognition, reflecting on what this implies for theories of gender and nationalism and theoretical analyses of men as victims of conflict-related sexual violence. RSVP: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Male carers play a vitally important, but often unrecognised, role in our society.  To rectify this situation, the Southern Area Men's Health Group Annual Seminar for 2017 will focus upon 'Men Who Care ...  Who Cares For Men?'  This free event will explore: the valuable role that male carers play; what it’s like to be a male carer; support available to male carers; how these carers can have their voice heard; ways to help men to care for themselves.  The seminar will take place on Friday 31st March 2017, from 9.30am - 1.30pm, in Brownlow Community Hub, Craigavon, Co. Armagh.  To register for a place, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Researchers at University College Cork (UCC) are looking for men to complete a short survey about awareness of cancer risk factors.  The number of cancers occurring worldwide is increasing.  This is partly because populations are living longer, but also because of an increase in cancer causing behaviours.  It is estimated that at least one third of all cancers could be prevented through adopting a healthy diet, staying active and maintaining a healthy body weight.  Researchers at UCC are asking men living in Ireland to complete this survey in order to assess how much they understand about cancer risk factors.  This knowledge is important, as it will help health professionals and policy makers to develop better cancer awareness programmes for Irish men in the future.  The research has been approved by the Social Research Ethics Committee at UCC, participation is completely voluntary, and respondents may withdraw from the survey at any time.  To participate, visit: www.surveymonkey.com/r/QBDVF93

Men's Health Week (MHW) 2017 will run from Monday 12th June - Sunday 18th June.  Every year the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) convenes an all-island Planning Group for MHW.  The first meeting of this body for 2017 will take place on the morning of Monday 30th January 2017, in Dundalk, Co. Louth.  The location, format and frequency of further meetings will be determined by group members at each gathering, and may include face-to-face meetings and/or video-conferencing between Belfast and Dublin and/or email discussion.  Your input to any or all parts of this process would be very welcome.  MHFI fully appreciates that most people cannot commit to all aspects of the planning process, but encourages you to participate in whatever way is appropriate.  Even if you cannot make the meetings / video-conferences, your feedback on developments via email / phone would still be greatly appreciated.  If you would be interested in contributing to the planning process for 2017 in any way, please email Colin Fowler at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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

However, remember that if you need help and support over the Christmas period, you can always contact ...
 
     The Samaritans (all Ireland) - Freephone 116 123
     Lifeline (NI) - Freephone 0808 808 8000

or visit: www.yourmentalhealth.ie/supports-services/urgent-help.html  |  www.mindingyourhead.info