Men’s Health Week (MHW) always begins on the Monday before Father’s Day and ends on Father’s Day itself. This year, it will run from Monday 13th until Sunday 19th June 2016.
Internationally, the core aims of MHW each year are to …
Each year, individual countries focus upon a specific theme. The theme for 2016 in Ireland is: ‘Men United – for Health and Wellbeing’.
During Men’s Health week Respond RSW’s and Respond Support Family Support Workers are distributing information and making residents and staff aware of the campaign
Although the health of men in Ireland is poor, it can be improved in many significant ways. Work has already taken place to support the health needs of men and boys: Ireland was the first country in the world to have a National Men’s Health Policy; the ‘Engage’ men’s health training programme has influenced how services and structures support males; new innovative and pioneering initiatives have been developed which provide models for improving aspects of men’s health … Much has been achieved, but there is still room for more.
But men’s health is not just an issue for individual men. While it is crucial for men to take responsibility for looking after themselves, their health can often be determined by other factors outside of their personal control. Thus, there is also a need for policy-makers, service providers, and society as a whole to recognise the role that they need to play, and to do something practical about it. This will require a coordinated and collaborative approach.
There is little doubt that more progress can be made when everyone pulls in the same direction. ‘Men United – for Health and Wellbeing’ captures the essence of this movement. It calls upon everyone to ask themselves / their organisations the basic question: ‘Are we winning?’ … If this is not the case, then we need to consider joining with other people to do something that will make a positive difference to the health and wellbeing of men and boys throughout the island of Ireland. MHW 2016 offers a launch pad to do this.
What were the themes for MHW in previous years?
Previous MHWs in Ireland have focused upon …
2005 – Obesity
2006 – Mental Wellbeing
2007 – Long-Term Conditions
2008 – Health in the Workplace
2009 – Access to Services
2010 – Physical Activity
2011 – Supporting Men and Boys during Challenging Times
2012 – What’s Your First Instinct … Fight? Flight? Find Out?
2013 – Action Men – Turning Words into Actions
2014 – Challenges and Choices: What’s Your Aim?
2015 – Creating Culture Change
To coincide with Men’s Health Week please see some links below:
Facebook: Like the Men’s Health Week in Ireland’s page www.facebook.com/MensHealthWeek
Twitter: Follow the latest news on www.twitter.com/MensHealthIRL
Website: Get a copy of a FREE 32-page men’s health manual “Challenges and Choices Man Manual” – see www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2016.html for details on how to access
For more information please click on the MHW toolbox here
Posted: June 2016