{jcomments off}Dementia Elevator is a programme based in Dublin City University.  Dementia Elevator is currently working in partnership with the HSE to up-skill individuals, communities and health care services in the area of dementia.  They are interested in highlighting the issue of dementia among men by approaching the topic positively - focusing on a person's abilities rather than their disabilities, and looking at ways we can all help people with dementia to stay involved in communities.  Throughout this work, they have met with men who have dementia, who are carers of a spouse with dementia, and some who are worried about memory loss or are fearful of going to the GP or even talking about it to family or friends.  They have also spoken to members of various clubs who worry when a member is diagnosed with dementia, and wonder if this member should keep attending and 'what is the right thing to do'.  A short awareness video has been developed to help to open up a conversation about dementia.  This is available online, and is accompanied by a resource pack for group delivery: www.dementiaelevator.ie/training-programmes/dementia-awareness-training/level-1-general-dementia-awareness

{jcomments off}The Western Health and Social Care Trust’s Health Improvement training brochure for April - September 2015 is now available online at: www.mhfi.org/WHSCTtraining2015.pdf

{jcomments off}From Thursday 5th March - Sunday 8th March 2015 a large scale international conference on Masculinities will be held in New York titled: 'Engaging Men and Boys for Gender Equality'.  This gathering is being hosted by the Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities at Stony Brook University, in partnership with the American Men’s Studies Association, MenEngage and Man Up.  Many of the leading men's health researchers and practitioners from the island of Ireland will be presenting at this gathering.  Men's Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) member Maria Lohan has co-organised an Invited Panel to discuss 'Advancing Gender Equality in Reproduction: The Consideration of Men', while other Forum members and regular MHFI collaborators are making presentations on 'Suicide and Men's Health', 'Community Health Programmes' and 'Men's Initiation Training'.  See: http://mensstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ICMprogram2015.pdf for more details.

{jcomments off}Did you know that Eating Disorders Awareness Week runs from Monday 23rd February to Sunday 1st March this year? ...  When we think of eating disorders, we often imagine a young girl who believes she is overweight while her weight continues to drop to unhealthy levels and she is visibly emaciated.  Or we may think of a young woman who runs to the toilet to force herself to be sick after every meal to keep her weight down while she indulges in her favourite foods.  However, eating disorders come in many forms and can affect anyone - male or female, young or old, big or small, rich or poor.  Eating disorders do not discriminate!  The Laurence Trust seeks to provide information and support to men living with eating disorders, and to help families to support their loved ones.  For more information, visit: www.thelaurencetrust.co.uk or view their campaign poster for this year at: www.mhfi.org/eatingdisordersweek2015.pdf

{jcomments off}Individuals and organisations concerned about alcohol harm are being invited to make their voice heard on the Public Health Alcohol Bill in Ireland.  The Bill sets out to provide for health labelling of alcohol products, minimum unit pricing, regulation of marketing and advertising of alcohol, and enforcement powers for Environmental Health Officers.  For further information on the Bill, visit Alcohol Action Ireland's campaign page - www.alcoholireland.ie/campaigns/bill - where you can also write to your local public representatives about this important issue in just three easy steps.

{jcomments off}What are your chances of living to 100?  How do your early years, your family life, where you live, your lifestyle and your work affect these chances?  With one in three children born in 2014 expected to live to 100, these questions have never been more relevant.  This exhibition uses the latest iPad-technology to give you access to up-to-the-minute research findings via interactive games, quizzes, pictures, interviews and easy-to-understand graphs and texts.  The exhibition has been travelling around the UK, and will make its final stop in Belfast.  The ARK Ageing Programme invites you to visit it from 19th - 28th February 2015, in W5 at the Odyssey complex, Belfast.  This will coincide with the Northern Ireland Science Festival.  For more information, visit: www.liveto100.cpc.ac.uk   The exhibition is free for anyone holding an entrance ticket to W5.  However, there is also an arrangement in place with W5 to allow groups to have free entrance to the exhibition if this is booked in advance.  To make a group booking, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

{jcomments off}Are you interested in starting a conversation about mental health in your community, workplace or among your friends? ...  If so, 'See Change' is hosting a series of training workshops across Ireland for anyone interested in getting a conversation going about this subject.  For details, visit: www.seechange.ie/become-a-see-change-volunteer-2

{jcomments off}You are invited to attend Action Cancer’s 'Action4Life' conference which will take place on the morning of Thursday 5th March 2015 in East Belfast.  The Action4Life programme, funded by Active Belfast, sought to improve the health and wellbeing of participants by addressing obesity and promoting physical activity in Belfast's most disadvantaged electoral wards which demonstrated the highest levels of cancer incidence.  Action4Life used a partnership and collaborative approach to achieve its goals.  The Keynote speaker will be Dr Ian Banks (President of the European Men’s Health Forum and Chair of the ECCO Patient Advisory Committee) who will speak on the importance of diet and physical activity in maintaining health and wellbeing, while reducing the risk of obesity, cancer and other co-morbidities.  Interactive stands and displays will showcase Action Cancer's services, Caroline Hughes (Research and Evaluation Officer in Action Cancer) will present findings from the Action4Life project, and guests will hear from programme participants.  For more information, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tel: 028 9080 3344.