Projects
The Sexual Health Promotion Service undertakes a range of projects and initiatives to raise awareness of issues such as HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancy, safer sex, etc.
The Sexual Health Promotion Service undertakes a range of projects and initiatives to raise awareness of issues such as HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancy, safer sex, etc.
Research with young men (Working with Men, 1998) reveals that those who are risk-takers in one area of their lives are very likely to take risks in other areas as well. If a young man is prepared to be part of a ‘gang’ and carry a gun, he is obviously taking enormous risks with his life, so it follows that he is likely to take risks with his sexual and emotional health too.
‘…virtually all of the young men take risks, there is a direct link between their levels of risk-taking and their own perceived level of personal responsibilities: the fewer their responsibilities, the more likely they are to take risks, including sexual risks’
(Working with Men, 1998).
Background:
The project began in 1999 and was set up as a result of a research project and final report entitled ‘Running the Risk’ which explored the issues involved in young men’s risk taking, written by ‘Working with Men’. The implications of this research project formed the original foundations and aims of the project. One of which was to develop an interactive website for young men and professionals working to support young men, on issues around sexual health and risk taking behaviour.
Piloting
Prior to opening up the site to the wider community, we ran two sessions with groups of young men. A few exercises were carried out with them using the website to ascertain how comfortable and efficient they found it. We were able to obtain their comments on things such as:
The feedback we received was extremely useful and in most cases positive. The major recommendation was for us to ensure that interactive element (story) was put in and also the, ‘What’s in my zone?’ Where organisations can promote the work they have done with young people on sexual health issues.
Website
The website has now gone live. It is designed to attract and inform boys and young men who are not always accessing health information as readily as some others. It is set up to be very interactive and can be used both by boys/young men themselves directly and also to support professionals in their work with boys/young men.
The site is not solely about sexual health, but it identifies other risk factors which may affect some of the choices boys/young men can make. It covers issues such as drugs and the law, along with information on testicular cancer and other men’s health topics. However, the website makes no attempt to be a comprehensive collection of resources about all boys/young men’s health issues; rather it offers many relevant signposts to other sources of information.
To have a look at the website for yourself, please log on to: www.runningtherisk.info