{jcomments off}Electric Ireland’s Powering Kindness Week is back, and will run from Saturday 17th - Friday 23rd January 2015.  During Powering Kindness Week, every time you do something kind or appreciate when someone is kind to you, you could help to raise valuable funds for the Marie Keating Foundation.  All funds raised will go towards their 'Comfort Fund' which gives small grants to individuals and families that are struggling financially due to a cancer diagnosis.  To find out about how you can simply and easily help the Marie Keating Foundation to achieve this goal visit: www.mhfi.org/PoweringKindness2015.pdf

{jcomments off}On the 11th of November 2014, the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) recommended that the HPV vaccination programme should be extended to men who have sex with men (MSM) aged 16-40 via a genitourinary medicine clinic or HIV clinic.  The Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) welcomes this as a move in the right direction, but does not feel that it is a sufficient response.  While it might be of some help to the individuals who do receive the vaccine, it is not an effective solution for all men or, indeed, for all MSM.  MHFI's submission to JCVI can be accessed at: www.mhfi.org/JCVIconsultation.pdf

{jcomments off}The Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) has just released a report on the findings from the first phase of their ‘Engaging Young Men Project’ (EYMP).  This report highlights that young men do care about their mental health and that - by changing even little things - service providers can make a huge difference to the quality of their engagement with young men.  Between March 2011 and October 2012, MHFI coordinated an action learning project which sought to identify a range of possible means to promote positive mental health among young men on the island of Ireland.  The final report on this initiative made twelve key recommendations.  During 2014, MHFI was supported by funding from the National Office for Suicide Prevention to support the roll-out of one of these recommendations.  This led to the establishment of the Engaging Young Men Project - which seeks to develop a training package that will increase the capacity of service providers to effectively engage with young men in relation to their mental health and wellbeing.  The full report on the first phase of EYMP is available for free downloading at: www.mhfi.org/EYMPmappingreport.pdf

{jcomments off}A new guide launched recently by the Men’s Health Forum in England and Wales, shows how to adapt and run weight-loss programmes so that they are tailored specifically for men.  In the UK, 67% of men are overweight or obese (significantly more than women at 58%), yet men are much less likely to join weight-loss programmes.  Only 10-30% of those in weight-loss programmes are men, and some programmes attract almost no men.  ‘How to Make Weight-Loss Services Work for Men’ is based upon the findings from research led by the University of Aberdeen, in partnership with the University of Stirling and Bournemouth University (see: www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/hta/volume-18/issue-35 for a copy of this report).  The Men's Health Forum in Ireland was delighted to be part of the Advisory Group for this wide-reaching systematic review.  The ‘How To’ practice guide offers advice to anyone who is trying to attract men to weight-loss programmes.  A free PDF copy of the booklet can be accessed online at: www.menshealthforum.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf/how_to_weight_final_lr_1.pdf

{jcomments off}Every year, the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) convenes an all-island Planning Group for Men’s Health Week in Ireland.  Organisations are invited to attend a number of meetings (some face-to-face and some via video-conference between Dublin and Belfast) to discuss the week and help to shape it.  The second meeting of this body will take place on Wednesday 14th January 2015, from 11.00am - 1.45pm (including lunch), in the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Dundalk, Co. Louth.  If you would be interested in contributing to this meeting, please contact Colin Fowler at email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

{jcomments off}Closing the Gap, in conjunction with the Muslim Association of Craigavon, is running a new eight week Muslim Male Health and Wellbeing Programme which will commence on Tuesday 13th January 2015, at 7.00pm, in the Legahory Centre, Craigavon, Co. Armagh.  The aim of this programme is to promote and encourage physical activity amongst males currently not considered active, to develop interaction between men, and to help sustain new local networks which encourage positive mental health by increasing engagement and interaction.  The programme will provide weekly health information for men, and will address their health issues (particularly physical activity, heart disease, cancer, healthy eating, mental health, physical activity, drugs, alcohol and smoking).  Participants will benefit from a health check at the beginning and at the end of the programme - to help to monitor any changes over time.  On completion of the programme, participants will receive a time-bounded gym membership to help sustain their health and wellbeing changes.  Expressions of interest must be sent before Noon on Friday 2nd January 2015 to Shameem Qureshi, Muslim Association of Craigavon, 131 Bleary Road, Portadown BT63 5NG  |  Tel: 07889 392570.

{jcomments off}Connect, the Freephone National Counselling and Support Service for adults who experienced abuse in childhood, will, once again, extend its service to open every evening from Wednesday 17th December 2014 to Sunday 4th January 2015, from 6.00pm - 10.00pm.  Each year, Connect has noticed an increase in men availing of this service - very often to speak confidentially and anonymously with a professionally trained psychotherapist about experiences of childhood neglect and trauma.  The Christmas period can be quite an isolating and stressful time, and we encourage anyone to avail of the service which is Freephone 1800 477 477 to callers from the Republic of Ireland, and 00800 477 477 77 to callers from Northern Ireland / the UK.

{jcomments off}On Monday 8th December 2014, Safefood will be publishing a report on Men’s Food Behaviour.  This will explore key food-related public health issues, including both food safety and nutrition, and will examine relevant socio-cultural influences, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours.  The report shows that, in Ireland, men are generally less engaged with food - both in terms of food hygiene and healthy eating - and this is having a detrimental effect on their health.  Qualitative research with men revealed a number of influences on men’s food behaviour, such as overcoming traditional gender stereotypes, perception of ability, life stage, and influence of the media.  It concludes that we have a responsibility to tackle this challenge, particularly by raising awareness of weight as a major men’s health issue, but also by teaching boys basic food skills such as shopping and cooking, and by creating positive role models for men’s day-to-day involvement in safe and healthy food.  For a copy of the report (on or after 8th December 2014) visit: www.safefood.eu/Publications/Research-reports/Consumer-Focused-Review-Of-Men’s-Food-Behaviour.aspx