BCPP
MEN’S HEALTH TAKES CENTRE STAGE
MEN ARE NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTHCARE. WHETHER THROUGH LACK OF SELF CARE OR RELUCTANCE TO PURSUE DIAGNOSIS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS - AND COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS IN PARTICULAR - ARE OFTEN IN THE FRONTLINE WHEN IT COMES TO ENGAGING MALES IN DISCUSSION REGARDING THEIR HEALTH. BUT FOUR BUILDING COMMUNITY PHARMACY PARTNERSHIP (BCPP) PROJECTS ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM....
COLIN HARRISON, HARRISON HEALTHCARE, DONEGALL PASS, BELFAST
Based on Donegall Pass in South Belfast, Harrison Healthcare is well known for taking a proactive stance in improving health in its local community. Recently, pharmacy contractor, Colin Harrison took the lead in a new pharmacy project which aimed to support young men in the area from a mixed community background to explore their health and improve their knowledge attitude and behaviours around mental health issues.
‘Our primary aim from the outset,’ says Colin, ‘was to reduce stigma and discrimination in our local areas and improve confi dence and ability and support networks for these young
26 - PHARMACY IN FOCUS
men. We decided to work with young men from the Donegall Pass, Sandy Row areas and Markets area, which make up the new ‘Urban Village’ in South Belfast and we began by meeting them on a one-to-one basis to ascertain their views as to how we could help them.’
The project was based around twelve pharmacy-led sessions and twelve co-facilitated sessions involving the pharmacy and Brian Armstrong from Alternatives, South Belfast.
‘Our initial session was a fi shing trip,’ Colin continues. ‘The idea behind this was that we weren’t just ‘fi shing’ in the literal sense but that we were ‘fi shing’ for ideas as to what these young men’s primary concerns were. The session, which served as a great icebreaker, immediately showed us
that many of the young men were concerned with gaining employment. Issues such as interview techniques and how to present themselves at interviews were of great interest to them and so this was one of our fi rst areas of focus.
‘Over the course of the next eleven weeks, the course took the form of alternating practical and theory weeks and, again, we worked with the individuals – sometimes on a one-to-one basis - to improve their employability skills. We were so delighted with their response and, in fact, some of them actually got jobs, with others getting apprenticeships at O’Hare McGovern!
‘In addition to the employment issue, we also covered healthy eating - along the lines of ‘eat better,
feel better’ and took the guys to Pure Gym in Adelaide Street, which provided both classes that were free of charge and information on nutrition. We averaged about 15 or 20 young men a week, which was a pretty good turnout. ‘
‘In addition to loads of DIY, we also encouraged the guys to do gardening, not just in a community garden - which instilled a sense of pride in their local area and also discouraged graffi ti - but also for their elderly neighbours.
‘To encourage the young men to complete the course we’ve organised a Bear Grylls-type survival course in the Mournes in September, which will be a great experience for everyone! Overall, I think this was an extremely worthwhile project, which not only improved the guys’ health awareness and increased their self esteem and self confi dence, but also contributed to their community awareness.’
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