Men's Health Week is an international event organised annually. It is running until Sunday. The purpose is to heighten awareness and prevent health problems in men which, if detected early, could be treated.
While there appears to be no major event arranged to mark the week in the Republic, Northern Ireland has a number of events lined up, including:
• Special training for youth/community workers who work with young men on the issues of conflict, identity, community relations and violence. This will be held in Derry and Belfast and is being organised by Youth Action NI. These sessions will take place in Derry on June 16th and in Belfast on June 17th.
• "Men Behaving Well", organised by the Ulster Cancer Foundation in conjunction with Ard Peninsula Healthy Living Centre in Kircubbin, will promote the prevention and early diagnosis of cancer by distributing 'Men Behaving Well' drip mats (beer mats) across pubs and sports clubs in the Peninsula area.
• For more information on National Men's Health Week, log on to its website at www.menshealthweek.org/
• A national conference on men's health is scheduled to take place in Wexford in December. It will coincide with the launch of a new three-year men's health research project organised by the Department of Health and Children.