Men’s Health
“A men’s health issue is a disease or condition unique to men, more prevalent in men, more serious among men, for which risk factors are different for men, or for which different interventions are required for men” (Fletcher 1996)
Men, in Northern Ireland, experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health.
Many of the major health risks that men face can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle: regular exercise, a healthy diet, not smoking, stress reduction, and alcohol consumption in the moderate range – if at all. Regular checkups and screening tests can spot disease early, when it is easiest to treat.
So don’t be an average man — below are some useful resources and websites that we hope will be of benefit to you.
The Health Improvement Team manage the Belfast Men’s Health Group website and chair the Belfast Men’s Health Group. This group is made up of staff from a wide range of organisations in the community, voluntary and statutory sector across Belfast who all have an interest in supporting the health and wellbeing of men and boys. Fun,lighthearted podcasts with important health and wellbeing messages are added regularly to this site with speakers such as Dr Angela Atalla (Consultant in Sleep and Respiratory Medicine) Vinny Hurrel (BBCNI TV producer and Presenter) and Finion Murray (Men’s Health Forum Ireland) to name a few.
Each year, Men’s Health Week (in June) and International Men’s Day (in November) is celebrated and we work in partnership with other organisations throughout the year to further raise awareness of the key issues.
Useful Websites
Belfast Men’s Health Group – belfastmenshealthgroup.org
Men’s Health Forum in Ireland – www.mhfi.org
International Men’s Health Week 2022
International Men’s Health Week (MHW) 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.
MHW is promoted worldwide and aims to:
- Heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages.
- Support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices / activities.
- Encourage the early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males.
Our call to action this year is “MISSION is POSSIBLE”
To celebrate this year the Belfast Trust Health Improvement team and the Belfast Men’s Health Group have organised number of events.
To book a place or for more information please see the list below.
Anyone interested in attending the Kickass Bootcamp they run Tuesday & Thursday evenings @ 6.15pm, and Saturday mornings @ 10am.
Staff/participants can sign up using this link –
https://www.fitnessbelfast.com/shop/outdoor-kickass-bootcamp-drop-in-session-pass
if they use the discount code MENSHEALTHWEEK at checkout, it will be discounted 100% – so a free session.
Organisation
|
Type of session
|
Date and time | Location
|
Belfast Men’s health Group
|
Podcast – Masculinity |
Monday 13th June |
Website
|
Ananda Yoga
|
Beginners session (Men)
|
Tuesday 14th June at 1pm – 2.15pm |
Antrim Road Belfast For more information or to book e-mail paul.okane@belfasttrust.hscni.net |
Here4U
|
Football | Tuesday 14th June at 5pm – 6pm | Grosvenor Road Football pitch Belfast
For more information or to book e-mail tony.mcdonagh@belfasttrust.hscni.net |
Kadampa Meditation Centre Belfast
|
Managing stress in turbulent times |
Thursday 16th June at 5.30pm – 6.30pm |
Kadampa Meditation Centre Belfast 54 Peter’s Hill. BT13 1BA For more information or to book e-mail paul.okane@belfasttrust.hscni.net |
Belfast Men’s Health Group + Health improvement team
|
Parkrun |
Saturday 18th June at 9.30am
|
Antrim – Parkrun free man manual Waterworks – Parkrun free man manual |
Cavehill Walking Club
|
Walk |
Sunday 19th June at 11am |
Upper Cavehill Road For more information or to book e-mail chris.donnelly@belfasttrust.hscni.net
|
Fitness Belfast
|
Kickass Bootcamp |
To be arranged with individual. |
Belfast Gym/outdoor location |
Local Champions from Northern Visions NvTv on Vimeo.
Interview with Prof Joe O’Sullivan, Cancer Centre, BHSCT, about his interests in men’s health, and also playing some music.
Our Podbean Channel is https://belfastmenshealthgroup.podbean.com/
Mens Cancer Group
Macmillan Move More Belfast in partnership with Connected Community Care for Cancer and East Belfast Community Development Agency are delighted to introduce a new Men-Only programme.
This Men’s-only programme will be an opportunity for Men who have or have had a cancer diagnosis to participate in physical activity sessions led by trained cancer rehab and exercise professionals in a supportive environment with other men who are going through their own cancer journey.
At the end of each session there will be tea and coffee provided and time to sit and chat. There will also be additional cancer support and information provided from external partners who can assist with, sign post or refer for any financial, emotional or practical support following a cancer diagnosis. There will also be an opportunity to find out about other programmes and groups available within the local community.
Anyone who participates will be able to avail of 12 weeks free membership to the Better Belfast Leisure centers with unlimited and inclusive access to all 14 Better Leisure centers followed by significantly subsidized memberships.
This programme will commence on Thursday 24th March and will take place in Avoniel Leisure Centre from 12-2pm and will run every Thursday thereafter.
Referrals can be made from any HCP or self-referral at any point following a cancer diagnosis.
For more information or to make a referral please contact:
Claire Murphy
Macmillan Move More Coordinator, Belfast
Tel: 07788 421987
Email: Claire.murphy2@gll.org