Health professionals, youth and community workers, and frontline staff are invited to apply for a place on a ‘Gender and Health Workshop’ which will take place on Tuesday 10th May 2016, from 9.15am - 4.30pm, in the Regional Education Centre, Ardee, Co. Louth.  The aims of the workshop are to: explain the difference between sex and gender; explore how gender intersects with other determinants of health and can determine health status; identify how our own perceptions of gender roles can influence our attitudes and behaviours; describe roles and norms concerning masculinities and femininities; look at ways of working from a gender sensitive perspective to reduce inequity and improve health outcomes.  This training will be facilitated by Finian Murray (Development Officer for Men’s Health) and Rosemary O’Callaghan (Development Officer for Women’s Health) from the HSE Dublin North East.  For more details, contact Geralyn Nolan at Tel: 041 6850675 | Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

There have been increasing calls for more gender-specific service provision to support young men’s mental health and wellbeing.  In Ireland, young men are the demographic group that are most likely to die by suicide, but among the least likely to seek help.  A recent article in the American Journal of Men’s Health by Billy Grace (Institute of Technology Carlow), Noel Richardson (Institute of Technology Carlow) and Paula Carroll (Waterford Institute of Technology) looks at service providers’ perspectives on the factors that support or inhibit young men from engaging in services targeted at supporting their mental and emotional wellbeing.  You can read the article online at: http://jmh.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/02/24/1557988316634088.full.pdf?ijkey=OS4ueddKvwJz9fy&keytype=finite

Loneliness can have a significant impact on the physical and mental health of older people, and is of increasing concern for public health says a new report from the Institute of Public Health in Ireland.  The research suggests that approximately 10% of older people are affected by chronic or persistent loneliness.  It also finds that loneliness amongst older people may be linked to depression, increased nursing home admission, decreased quality of life, and cognitive decline.  To download a copy of the report, visit: www.publichealth.ie/document/iph-report/loneliness-and-ageing-ireland-north-and-south

On Thursday 4th February 2016, Prof Steve Robertson (Leeds Beckett University) delivered a lecture in Waterford Institute of Technology on the topic of: ‘Men’s Health: Implications for Health Promotion and Public Health’.  Steve is the Professor of Men, Gender and Health / Co-Director of The Centre for Men's Health at Leeds Beckett University, Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Men's Health, and is a qualified nurse and health visitor.  A video of his talk can be viewed at: https://media.heanet.ie/page/4b906e5420e29b78722995ed62783f17

This all-island conference will explore innovative and practical ways of providing knowledge support for the implementation of two public health frameworks: 'Healthy Ireland: A Framework for Improved Health & Wellbeing 2013-2025' in the Republic of Ireland, and 'Making Life Better - A Whole System Strategic Framework for Public Health 2013-2023' in Northern Ireland.  The event is being co-hosted by the Institute of Public Health in Ireland and the Department of Health (Republic of Ireland).  It will take place on Wednesday 25th May 2016, in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, from 10.00am - 4.00pm.  You are invited to find out more / register for this free event by visiting: www.knowledge4health.net

Fathers and their children are invited to a ‘Dads’ Big Day Out’ on Saturday 9th April 2016 in Gosford Forest Park, Markethill, Co. Armagh.  This event is part of the work of Dads Direct, has been funded by The Big Lottery, and is being coordinated by Sure Start projects in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area.  There’ll be lots of activities on offer, and it’s all free for dads and their kids.  For more information, contact Conor McArdle, Sure Start South Armagh, at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Could you help to highlight the reality of what it means to care for a family member or friend in 2016? ...  The ‘State of Caring Survey’ is run each year to find out what life is like for people who are in caring roles, and what needs to change to make life better for them.  In Northern Ireland, a number of changes to social security will come into force over the course of this year as a result of the Welfare Reform Act 2012.  Your evidence will help to assess the impact of this and how carers will be affected.  The Government is also looking at carers as part of its Review of Social Care, so it’s an important time to gather evidence on how local carers experience health and social care services.  To complete the survey, visit: http://carersuk-news.org/74C-435SJ-O8VSA-20KM0O-1/c.aspx

The Alcohol Health Alliance is a new initiative to support the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, a piece of legislation that has the potential to significantly reduce the harm caused by alcohol consumption in Ireland.  The Alcohol Health Alliance will work together to: highlight the rising levels of alcohol-related health harm; propose evidence-based solutions to reduce this harm; campaign for the implementation of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015; advocate for positive action to address the damage caused by alcohol misuse.  Established by Alcohol Action Ireland and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), the Alcohol Health Alliance brings together a wide range of public health campaigners, NGOs, charities and medical representative organisations.  Its mission is to reduce the harm caused by alcohol.  To see current members, and for details of how to join the Alliance, visit: www.alcoholireland.ie/members-of-the-alcohol-health-alliance