Involving Men, Developing Services

Men's Health Forum Scotland Resources

Men’s health? In Scotland?

Here in Scotland we men don’t have a great reputation for looking after ourselves, what with the unhealthy diet and the love of a few too many drams.

Medically things don’t look too good. You just have to check out the increase in male specific cancers, and the growing prevalence of coronary heart disease, chronic liver disease and obesity.

As social beings, people tend to portray us as extremes – with Rab C Nesbitt at one end, and the Scott’s Porridge Oats man at the other. Unfortunately, this leaves most ordinary Scottish men wondering where they fit in.

Improving men’s health

Thankfully, this picture isn’t the whole story. Attitudes towards men’s health and work in the field of improving it are moving ahead at a very encouraging rate.

Right across the medical and social sectors, we are making progress – rapidly in some areas, slowly but surely in others.

This site is here to try and keep you abreast of these developments and enable you to tap into the experience of those already working to improve men’s health.

Many committed individuals within the health service and the voluntary sector are working really hard to get men thinking more about their health, and/or service providers to target men more effectively.

A national perspective

The Men’s Health Forum Scotland exists to support their efforts and to ensure that we learn from what it is being done, so that sustainable progress can be made across the country in a coordinated fashion.

Contained in this CD resource you will find information on projects in Scotland and the people behind them.

If you want to send us your comments, then don’t hesitate to email us: mhfs@mhfs.org.uk

MHF Scotland - Networking

We have been working hard to generate interest in men’s health issues across Scotland.

While we do our best to keep track of new projects and initiatives, we never hear about many of them.

It would great if we had information about planned, current and past men’s health initiatives. If we had this, we could truly be a central and national reference point for anyone involved.

If you can tell us about your project – what worked and what didn’t work, who you targeted, how you got funding (if any) – we can put others in touch with you to learn from your experience.

Or you could ask us if anyone has experience of the sort of project you are planning – we could put you in touch and you could pick their brains.

Here’s how to help build the network:

tell@mhfs.org.uk – keep us up to date with all your research and project news
ask@mhfs.org.uk – ask us your questions about men’s health issues

Setting up a Men's Health Project

Click here for some useful information on setting up a successful men's health project

If you require help using this CD Resource click here