The COVID pandemic has had a huge impact upon the mental health of everyone across Ireland.  The ‘Minding Your Wellbeing Programme’ (from the Health Service Executive’s Health and Wellbeing Division) provides a unique opportunity for people to learn more about the key elements of mental wellbeing - such as mindfulness, gratitude, self-care, staying connected and resilience.  It also provides simple practical tools and guidance for people to develop and maintain a positive outlook.  A new series of five online videos has been produced, and these are available at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLltgannkj2UHEc7ELQpgT6--mN4PRmzpU

Belfast Men’s Health Group has recently branched out into the world of podcasting, and have set-up their own channel at: https://belfastmenshealthgroup.podbean.com  The first two clips feature Professor Joe O'Sullivan (Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast) and Dr Mark Davies, (Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust).

To mark International Men's Day (IMD) on the 19th of November 2020, HSE Health and Wellbeing - supported by the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland and the National Centre for Men’s Health in IT Carlow - organised a webinar which explored the impact of COVID-19 upon the health and wellbeing of men and boys.  This free event: attracted 714 registrants; specifically focused upon the difficulties facing farmers, older men and young men; and included a mix of research presentations, personal experiences and panel discussion.  To view a recording of this event, please visit: https://youtu.be/xK0JhhlShvQ   PDF copies of the speakers’ presentations can be downloaded from: https://www.mhfi.org/coronavirus.html

To mark International Men's Day 2020, Traveller men from Pavee Point talked about how the COVID lockdown had affected their health, and about the positive steps they were taking to overcome this.  Hear their stories at ... https://www.facebook.com/paveepointireland/videos/665128827509753

A series of health and wellbeing podcasts have been recorded for Offaly and Laois, covering a wide range of topics relevant to everyday life.  ‘Offaly Talks’ and ‘Laois Connects' podcasts have been developed in partnership with Offaly Local Development Company, Laois Partnership Company, HSE Resource Office for Suicide Prevention (Laois Offaly), and HSE Health Promotion and Improvement (Midlands Louth Meath CHO).  They feature a wide range of interesting topics with frontline staff working across the statutory, community and voluntary sectors.  These are available on all main podcast apps including PodBean, Spotify and Apple Play.  Check them out at Offaly Talks Podcasts: https://www.offalyldc.ie/offaly-talks-podcasts  |  Laois Connects Podcasts: https://laoispartnership.ie/laois-connects-podcasts

When someone has a stroke, minutes matter - because two million brain cells die every minute after a stroke!  To learn about the signs of a stroke, and how to act FAST, visit: https://youtu.be/WckB15sJ9r4

Aware NI is offering two of their workshops online in the New Year: (i) ‘Mood Matters’ is a light and interactive, two hour, mental health awareness training session which offers participants an opportunity to think about how to look after their own mental health.  It explores mental health stereotypes, and looks more closely at how to spot the early signs of mental health issues.  This session also teaches participants: coping skills for everyday life; how to avoid getting caught in a vicious circle; how to break unhelpful habits; and where to get further help and support.  For more information, see: https://aware-ni.org/mood-matters-for-adults   (ii) ‘Living Life to the Full’ (six weeks by two hours per week) looks more closely at the ways in which mental health can be impacted by life events and unhelpful thinking styles - which may then also affect our physical health and overall enjoyment of life.  This programme explores a different topic each week.  Find out more at: https://aware-ni.org/living-life-to-the-full

The purpose of this report was to examine messages about masculinity present in popular television programming among boys aged seven to thirteen.  Much of the existing research on gender representation in children’s television has focused on girls and women.  However, far less is known about depictions of masculinity in contemporary children’s programming.  Media representations of masculinity have real world effects on the wellbeing and behaviour of boys and men, and can impact their beliefs/behaviours.  Media has the power to challenge limiting masculine norms in ways that support men’s reduced engagement in violence and self-injurious behaviours, and improve their health and happiness.  Download the report at: https://promundoglobal.org/resources/if-he-can-see-it-will-he-be-it-representations-of-masculinity-in-boys-television