Around 2,600 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the Republic of Ireland every year.  Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in men.  BowelScreen, the HSE’s national bowel cancer screening programme, has just announced that it is lowering the age range of screening from 60 to 59.  This is part of their ongoing plan to eventually make screening available to all people aged 55-74.  Put simply, if cancer is diagnosed through BowelScreen testing, it is more likely to be found at an early stage - when treatment may lead to a better outcome.  As men are a particularly under-represented group in the bowel cancer screening programme, all eligible males are encouraged to find out more about it at: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/bowel-screening/screening-information

In the most recent podcast by Belfast Men's Health Group, Paul O'Kane chats with Eoin Kernan - a water sports enthusiast who is also living with an eating disorder.  Listen in at: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-6eisn-148330b

To celebrate International Men's Day 2023, The Centre for Male Psychology is offering a reduced price on their 'Introduction to Male Psychology and Mental Health' course.  This is approved by The British Psychological Society for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and offers: six hours of e-learning about male psychology and mental health; additional hours of self-directed learning to develop your insights further; twelve-months of on-demand access to video presentations and learning materials.  Find out more at: https://tinyurl.com/bdf3j98r

Have you listened to the HSE's 'Positive Mental Health' podcast yet? …  If not, check it out at: https://youtu.be/BR1LXhiGdf8  In this episode, the host (Fergal Fox) chats to Olive Fanning and Anne Marie Murphy (HSE Health Promotion and Improvement Officers) about positive mental health and the HSE’s 'Minding Your Wellbeing' programme - which is available through a series of five videos along with other mental health supports at: www.yourmentalhealth.ie

The Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland is calling on older people to share their views on ageism.  Ageism is the stereotyping, prejudice and/or discrimination of people based on their age, or perceived age.  The Commissioner aims to address this by encouraging Government to improve policy and legislation affecting older people, examine why ageism happens, how to reduce it, and educate the public on ageism and how to stop it.  Help to inform the Commissioner’s recommendations to government by sharing your views and completing a short survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/89ZTX6R

The Institute of Public Health's report, ‘Children and gambling - evidence to inform regulation and responses in Ireland’, presents data from Irish secondary school students, collected through the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD).  There is some specific gender analysis and recommendations within it on boys' / men’s health.  Read it at: https://tinyurl.com/yjmh64wx

In late August 2023, the Minister for Health in the Republic of Ireland announced the expansion of the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine Catch-Up Programme to include all males up to their 22nd birthday.  Find out more at: https://tinyurl.com/ycxf593x

Lived Experience (LE) is about the things that someone has experienced themselves - especially when these give the person a knowledge or understanding that people who have only heard about such experiences do not have.  The National Suicide Research Foundation is trying to ensure that their research is informed by LE, and is seeking the input of people with LE to all aspects of their research and practice by creating an LE Representatives’ Panel.  If you'd be interested in contributing to this, find out more at: https://www.nsrf.ie/about-us/patient-and-public-involvement-and-engagement-ppie