The All Ireland Traveller Health Study (AITHS 2010) highlighted the very poor health status of Traveller men; in particular the research showed that Traveller men die 15 years earlier than men of the majority population and that suicide is 7 times higher.
In December 2012 MTSG employed a part time Community Development Worker for Traveller men’s health in an effort to highlight and respond to the health needs of Traveller men. The role of the CDW is to:
- Establish links with Traveller men in the community
- Gather information on the needs of Traveller men in the community and to develop suitable projects to address the needs identified
- To raise awareness and provide opportunities for Traveller men to gain a greater understanding of the determinants of health and the services that they can access
- To highlight Traveller men’s health on relevant committees and establish working links with other services and organisations
- To address the key areas of Traveller men’s health as outlined in the All Ireland Traveller Health Study (AITHS 2010)
Work of CDW to date includes:
- Organised Men’s soccer tournaments locally and regionally that included health screening and information
- Linked with men’s sheds
- Attended Irish Heart Foundation & ASIST Suicide First Aid training
- Started a gym programme for Traveller men with health information
- Worked with the Ballina Community Food Initiative & Parkside Community Garden
- Represented MTSG on local committees to raise awareness to Traveller men’s health
