Working with Men : Progress Report 1998

Resources and Publications

Promoting Men's Health
Commissioned by the publishers Balliere Tindall, WWM is editing a guide for practitioners. As well as background material on men's health and a guide to current debates, the book will mostly consist of contributions from practitioners, managers and researchers in the field. Publication will be in early 1999.

Developing Men's Sexual Health
Commissioned by Healthlink Worldwide (an agency working on health issues in developing countries), this extended "briefing paper" offers case studies, practical exercises and guidelines for initiating work with men on a range of sexual health issues. Published by Healthlink in Autumn 1998.

The Relationship Game
This new boardgame and pack of curriculum materials aims to enable young men and women (aged 14 upwards) to develop awareness and skills in negotiating roles and responsibilities within a relationship. This is for use within PHSE, youth work and other informal settings as well as part of the post 16 college curriculum. This is our first attempt at developing materials to be used with both young men and women. Available in October 1998.

HEA Leaflets And Training Materials
In 1997 WWM wrote the text for the Health Education Authority's first sexual health leaflet targeted at heterosexual men. "Sexual Health Matters For Men" provides information and advice on prostate and testicular problems, STI's, safer sex, infertility and how to get help. WWM also wrote the text for a 'credit card' leaflet ("Men - This Is For You") on men and contraception. Both leaflets are now available to the general public.

"It Takes Two" is a training resource aimed at helping primary care professionals improve their health education work with men on contraception and sexual health. It contains background research and exercises which can be used in a variety of training formats. It is currently available from the HEA or the Contraceptive Education Service.

Men's Health Briefing Paper
We were asked by the Men's Health Forum to write a 'Briefing Paper' on the implication for men's health of the Governments Public Health proposals. This 'Briefing Paper' is targeted at those within health services, government and the media who are interested in men's health fits. Launch in October 1998.

In Development
We have a number of resources we are currently working on. Among these are :

• Fatherhood Pack and Posters. Materials developed from the Fatherhood Project (see above) will be accompanied by a set of posters promoting men's involvement with their sons. To be published in early 1999.
• Boys And Reading Posters. From the work done in conjunction with the Early Learning Centre (see above) we will be producing a set of posters aimed at encouraging fathers involvement in reading with their sons. To be published early 1999.
• Photopack - Relationships and Intimacy. This set of photographs will form a supplement to our already successful "Male Image Photopack" resource. To be published early 1999.
• Photopack -'Gender And Work '. This is another resource similar in design to the 'Male Image Photopack'. To be published early 1999.
• The Men's Health Resources Directory. During Autumn 1998 we will be working on this HEA funded project. This will aim to provide a description and evaluation of all current resources aimed at men around health issues. It will be published in Spring /early Summer 1999.
• "The Men's Bulletin". This is a service aimed at advice columnists ('agony aunts') and will aim to keep them abreast of current developments in work and research on men and boys issues.