The Dementia Elevator team has produced a free, online, Dementia Coping Skills for Families and Carers programme.  This can be accessed at: www.elevator-carers-coping-skills.com  While this programme is, primarily, focused upon the needs of families and carers of a person with dementia, the content will be very beneficial to anyone who wishes to learn more about supporting a person with dementia and their family.

The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has issued a consultation document setting out proposals to amend the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.  The proposed amendments are necessary to ensure that domestic law fully complies with Council Directive 2006/54/EC of 5th July 2006.  This EU Directive implements the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation.  A copy of the consultation document can be obtained online at: www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-document-proposed-amendments-sex-discrimination-ni-order-1976

Global Action on Men’s Health (GAMH), a major international public health initiative, is seeking new members.  Both organisations and individuals are very welcome.  The Men’s Health Forum in Ireland was one of GAMH’s founding members.  Globally, the gap between male and female life expectancy and healthy life expectancy has widened in the last 40 years.  The male:female life expectancy ‘gap’ is expected to get even bigger by 2030.  International public health organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), have not identified this as an issue or taken any significant steps to address the problem.  Men are almost entirely absent from global public health policy.  GAMH exists to address this inequality.  Members benefit from: shared intelligence about developments in men’s health in individual countries and globally, provided via a regular members’ eBulletin; an opportunity to share information and network with other GAMH members; a profile on the GAMH website; an opportunity to support and contribute to GAMH initiatives and projects; early alerts about GAMH events and registration at discounted rates.  More information about membership can be found at: www.gamh.org/membership  For any other queries, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Irish Cancer Society and the National Cancer Control Programme are working together to develop the first Skin Cancer Prevention Action Plan for Ireland - but they need your help.  Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, and the number of new cases is expected to rise sharply over the next 25 years.  A Skin Cancer Prevention Action Plan will help to address this issue.  They are carrying out a short survey to identify what skin cancer prevention work has been done in Ireland over the last five years, and are seeking your opinion on what should be considered when drafting the Action Plan.  The deadline for survey completion is Friday 11th December 2015, and it can be found at: www.cancer.ie/skinsurvey

Did you know that 'The Funky Seomra' - an alcohol and drug free nightclub based in Dublin, Cork and Galway - will be celebrating its seven year anniversary on 28th November 2015?  So far, 37,000 people have enjoyed socialising without the undue influence of alcohol.  For more information, see: www.dancefree.ie

The Transitional Justice Institute (TJI) and the International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE) at Ulster University invite proposals for a one-day postgraduate conference on 'Masculinities, Violence and (Post-)Conflict'.  This will be held on Thursday 14th January 2016 in Belfast.  This student-led event will offer academic presentations, peer discussion, networking opportunities, and expert feedback in a supportive environment.  Postgraduate students who utilise a gendered lens while exploring the dynamics of and/or relationships between masculinities, violence and (post-)conflict (either conceptually or empirically) are invited to submit paper proposals.  For more information, see: www.mhfi.org/UUPostGradConf.pdf

The Marie Keating Foundation is offering free ‘Get Men Talking’ seminars.  Each event includes an overview of male cancers, a survivor’s story, and a session on mindfulness.  They will take place in Letterkenny (Tuesday 24th November), Limerick (Wednesday 25th November), Dublin (Thursday 26th November), and Waterford (Thursday 26th November).  All the seminars run from 6.00pm to 8.30pm, and are open to men who have an interest in health or are affected by cancer.  Registration is essential.  Visit www.mariekeating.ie/events for more details, or Tel: 01 628 3726 | Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Throughout the month of November, Together For You is running a campaign to encourage men to look after their mental health and wellbeing by seeking help early.  By asking the question 'are you trying to remain strong and silent?', Together For You is encouraging men to talk, to ask for help, or to simply say to a friend or loved one 'I’m not feeling myself'.  The stigma that surrounds mental health, in addition to the reluctance of some men to admit that there is something wrong, is quite literally killing men - who are three times more likely to die by suicide than women (77% of those who completed suicide in Northern Ireland between 2005 and 2011 were men).  This stereotypical view that men should remain strong and silent needs to change.  Asking for help isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength.  Speaking out and challenging the stigma of mental health is courageous.  Doing so may help to save not only your life, but the lives of other men who are suffering in agonising, lonely silence.  Help is available ...  Pick up the phone (028 9032 9150), drop a short email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), or visit: www.togetherforyou.org.uk