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Members of New Town Together Men’s Shed, based in Newtownhamilton, have been benefiting from a new Age NI men’s health information booklet aimed at supporting the mental health and wellbeing of men locally who are aged over 50.
The information brochure comes as part of Age NI’s Good Vibrations programme which has been funded by Movember and is one of only 16 projects selected across the world for its ‘Scaling What Works’ Mental Health Grant funding.
The programme also includes a new website platform www.ageni.org/iconnect ; a new podcast series, “How’s the form?”, hosted by Joe Lindsay and featuring some of Northern Ireland’s best known older men. Men aged 50+ can also sign up for a six week group programme.”
Mr Pete Haughey, Chairperson, New Town Together Men’s Shed said "We are delighted to have our Age NI Good Vibrations booklets - they contain lots of good tips to promote men's health. I was particularly happy to read the section on making connections with others - this is what our Men's Shed is all about".
Age NI’s research with over 300 older men revealed that they don’t know where to turn for advice and information on the new challenges of life beyond 50. This could be financial worries like pension and retirement planning in the later stage of working life, or the transition into retirement; it might be the stress of taking on caring responsibilities, managing a chronic illness or facing bereavement; or it may be a wake-up call triggering a re-evaluation of how to take better care of their health. Of course, all of these critical life challenges can have a massive impact on an individual’s stress, mental health, and overall health and wellbeing.
Thanks to the funding support from Movember, Good Vibrations aims to fill this information gap with tailor-made support, information and advice on all the topics men of this age group have told us they want to know more about. This programme has been co-designed and developed with input from older men and tapping into a wealth of expert health and wellbeing advice, on everything from stress, sleep, physical activity, relationships and healthy eating.
Age NI’s Good Vibrations is the result of a unique partnership including Business in the Community, mental health charity Inspire, and grassroots community organisations Northern Ireland-wide including Groundwork NI’s network of Men’s Sheds. Other partners include Action Mental Health, Counselling for all Nations, NICSSA, Public Health Agency, CANS, Relate NI, Men’s Health Forum Ireland and Ulster University.”
For more information on the Good Vibrations programme, or to request a copy of the Good Vibrations Men’s Health Guide, visit www.ageni.org
