Absolutely everyone can do something to support and celebrate Men’s Health Week (MHW) 2018.  The focus for this year (i.e. ‘what’s your small step going to be?’) lends itself to a wide range of ways to mark this occasion.  However, you don’t have to stick rigidly to this particular topic.  Anything which encourages men and boys to lead healthier lifestyles, to be more aware of preventable health problems, and to seek early detection and treatment for health difficulties will be very welcome.  You might have time, energy and resources to plan something big.  However, even if you can’t, there are still simple and easy ways to get involved.  These could include, for example ...

1. Putting-up a poster and/or sending the postcards to people you know.
2. Advertising MHW on your own website.
3. Creating a link from your website to the MHW 2018 web page (www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2018.html).
4. Sending an email to everyone in your contacts list about Men’s Health Week and asking them to forward the message.
5. Inserting the MHW logo and/or badge and/or banner (www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-image-pack.html) into your outgoing emails.
6. Becoming a fan of the Men’s Health Week in Ireland’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MensHealthWeek) and sending the link to all your friends.
7. Including information about MHW in your mailouts / newsletters.
8. Telling others about what is happening in your area during MHW by posting details on the MHW website (www.mhfi.org/mhw/promote-an-event.html).
9. Reminding your colleagues to follow all the latest MHW news on Twitter (www.twitter.com/MensHealthIRL).
10. Tweeting about MHW 2018, and including #MensHealthWeek in your tweet.
11. Encouraging the men you know to get involved in some of the activities taking place around the country ...

Doing one or more of these simple (and cost-free) things will contribute hugely to MHW 2018!

For even more ideas, download a copy of the paper on what you can do to mark MHW 2018 at: www.mhfi.org/mhw2018celebrateit.pdf

To keep everyone up-to-date with the latest news on Men’s Health Week (MHW) 2018 - as well as more general developments in the field of men’s work - check out Facebook (www.facebook.com/MensHealthWeek) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/MensHealthIRL).  However, as all social networkers know, pages such as these are no use unless they have a lot of Fans / Followers.  That’s where your help is needed! ...  Please visit the pages, click on the ‘LIKE’ button for Facebook and ‘FOLLOW’ button for Twitter, and send the link to all your friends.  If you’re really into it, please Tweet about MHW 2018, and include the hashtag #MensHealthWeek in your message.  To make things easy, a pool of ready-made ‘Posts’ and ‘Tweets’ will soon be available at: www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2018.html

This event will focus on ‘nudging’ as a behaviour change concept to encourage positive behaviours in relation to health and wellbeing and promoting a healthy weight.  Presentations will explore the ‘nudge concept’ and include practical examples.  It will be of interest to a broad range of sectors, and will take place on Tuesday 12th June 2018, from 10.00am - 1.30pm, in Belfast.  For more details or to book a place, visit: www.safefood.eu/Professional/Events/All-island-Obesity-Action-Forum-Nudge-nudge.aspx

Is your head wrecked?  Are you stressed?  Do you want to learn to control your anger? …  If so, you might be interested in the Mojo South Dublin ‘Man Day’ being held on Friday 18th May 2018, from 9.30am to 4.00pm, in Clondalkin Tus Nua, New Nangor Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.  This free event will include information, exercise, food and relaxation.  Text your name to 087 2470464 to reserve a place.

Are you a person with a health condition who would like to slowly increase your activity levels?  Did you know that walking can help you to: lose weight; keep your joints, bones and muscles strong; reduce anxiety and depression; increase good cholesterol; control blood pressure and blood sugar …?  If you live near Lurgan (Co. Armagh) or Banbridge (Co. Down) there are three different types of organised walk to suit all abilities.  These are held on Wednesdays (meet at the Waves entrance to Lurgan Park) and Thursdays (meet at the Solitude Park Toilets in Banbridge) and begin at 10.00am for a 10 minute walk, 10.45am for a 20 minute walk, and 11.30am for a 30 minute walk.  To register your interest, contact Sean Collins by email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

International Men's Health Week (MHW) always begins on the Monday before Father's Day and ends on Father's Day itself.  This coming year, it will run from Monday 11th until Sunday 17th June 2018.

Each year, there is a specific theme.  During 2018, the theme for the island of Ireland will focus upon the famous words of Astronaut Neil Armstrong - the first man to walk on the moon - when he said: ‘That's one small step for [a] man. One giant leap for mankind’.  The key question that everyone will be asked during MHW this year is: ‘what's your one small step to improve men's health going to be?’

Every year the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) convenes an all-island Planning Group for MHW.  Would you be interested in joining with others from across the island of Ireland to help to shape this week?  This can be done in many ways - from participating in meetings to electronic communication.  All input is very welcome, and helps to make the week stronger and more relevant.

The third meeting of the Planning Group will be held on the morning of Thursday 10th May 2018, in Dundalk, Co. Louth.  However, even if you cannot make this meeting, your ongoing feedback on developments via email would still be very helpful.  If you would be interested in being part of the planning process for 2018 (in any way), email Colin Fowler at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

One way or the other, it’s time to start thinking about how your group / workplace / church / community / sports club ...  could do something to mark this week.  MHW 2018 posters, postcards, Man Manuals, graphics, social media messages and giveaways are, currently, being developed and will be ready in early May.  In the meantime, monitor progress and developments at: www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2018.html

Unfortunately, all of the places at the Men’s Health Symposium held on Thursday 15th March 2018 in Dr Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin (which focused on the health and wellbeing needs of middle-aged men in Ireland) were allocated soon after the booking process opened.  This left a lot of applicants feeling disappointed.  To meet the requests from people who were not able to attend, all of the speakers’ PowerPoint presentations are now available online at: www.mhfi.org/resources/men-s-health-symposium-2018.html  It is also hoped to have video footage of some of the inputs available on this page soon.