International Men's Health Week

International Men’s Health Week is Monday the 14th of June to Sunday 20th June 2021. The core aim of the awareness days is to heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages, support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices/activities and to encourage the early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males.

The theme this year is “Making the Connections” with everyone being asked to “check in, check-up and check it out”.

• CHECK IN with yourself to see how you are coping/feeling, and to identify any health worries that you might have.
• CHECK UP on your family, friends, neighbours, colleagues to see how they’re doing and to offer support.
• If you notice anything worrying or which needs medical attention, CHECK IT OUT and seek information/ help/support/ treatment as soon as possible.

To access the Inspire Wellbeing factsheet click here

Challenges and Choices Manual

For Men’s Health Week, a Challenges and Choices manual has been created which demonstrates how men’s health can be improved in many significant ways, if the right choices are made. This is a male-friendly, 32-page publication, which highlights men’s health issues i.e. alcohol, food, physical activity, smoking, stress, blood pressure, sexually transmitted diseases, skin cancers, back care and help-seeking behaviour. To access click here

A broad range of research has been developed and it has highlighted the health challenges which face men in Ireland and beyond:

• Men’s Health in Numbers in Ireland (www.mhfi.org/MensHealthInNumbers1.pdf)
• Getting Inside Men’s Health (www.mhfi.org/gettinginsidemenshealth.pdf)
• Men’s Health in Northern Ireland: Tackling the Root Causes of Men’s [ill] Health (www.mhfi.org/manmattersbriefing1.pdf)
• A Report on the all-Ireland Young Men and Suicide Project (www.mhfi.org/ymspfullreport.pdf)
• Middle-Aged Men and Suicide in Ireland (www.mhfi.org/MAMRMreport.pdf)

Bowel Screen - Do the Test this Men’s Health Week This Men’s Health Week

The HSE is encouraging all men aged 60-69 to register for a free Bowel Screen test kit and to do the test. About 2,800 people get bowel cancer every year. It is the second most common cancer in men in Ireland. Bowel screening helps find signs of cancer before symptoms start. If bowel cancer is found early, it’s easier to treat and there is a higher chance of recovery

• Check In - if you’re aged 60-69, check you’re on the Bowel Screen register.
• Check Up - make sure your family and friends (men and women in the age group) are on the register too.
• Check It Out - always see a GP if you have any symptoms of bowel cancer. § Make the Connection - for more information, and to check you’re on the register, visit http://hse.ie/bowelscreen or use Freephone 1800 454555