HSE encourages men to set simple, realistic and practical tactics to improve their health

The HSE and partners are encouraging men to engage in their health and wellbeing ahead of International Men’s Health Day tomorrow.  While men’s’ health overall has improved, men still have a lower life expectancy than women and higher mortality rates for the leading causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and suicide. There are also significant disparities between different subpopulations of men.

The HSE, Men’s Health Forum in Ireland, the Men’s Development Network and the National Centre for Men’s Health in SETU, launched the second National Men’s Health Action Plan, Healthy Ireland – Men (HIM) (2024 – 2028) at a Men’s Health webinar today.

Key Insights:

• Although life expectancy for men in Ireland has improved in recent years, it is still 3.6 years lower than female life expectancy (80.5 and 84.1 respectively).
• Life expectancy at birth for men living in the most deprived areas is 79.4 years, compared with 84.4 years for those living in the most affluent areas (a difference of 5 years).
• Cancer is now the primary cause of death in men in Ireland, accounting for 30.8% of all male deaths. The risk of dying from cancer is 34% higher for men than for women.
• 16.7% of men aged 40 - 44 have issues with their mental health.
• Men are more likely than women to report being overweight or obese (63% v 50%), while the gap in the proportion of men and women reporting a normal weight widens with age.
• 16% of men aged 15 – 24 are either daily or occasional users of e-cigarettes.
• In 2023 37% of men reported that they binge drink.
• Men are less likely than women to seek preventive care and undergo regular health screenings.
• Men made up 78% (144) of all road fatalities in 2023.

Dr Philip Crowley, National Director of Wellbeing, Equality, Climate and Global Health in the HSE said:  

“Measures designed to improve men’s health can impact not just on men’s lives, but can have a positive influence on the lives of women and children, and on society as a whole. By promoting preventive care, engagement with screening programmes, awareness of signs and symptoms of disease, and encouraging help-seeking in men who may have symptoms, it may be possible to achieve early detection and improved outcomes from diseases such as cancer and circulatory diseases.

“The second Action Plan for Men’s Health marks another important step in continuing the momentum and excellent progress that has been achieved in the area of men’s health practice in Ireland in recent years.

“Ireland was the first country in the world to adopt a National Men’s Health Policy, and while other countries have built on the pioneering work and practical learning from the Irish experience, there is a clear need to sustain and continue to build upon the existing body of work, particularly with regard to addressing health inequalities.”

Welcoming the publication of the new Action Plan, Dr Noel Richardson, National Centre for Men’s Health, SETU, commented:

“This plan is hugely significant in continuing to build on the momentum achieved over 15 years of men’s health policy implementation to date. The plan has a clear focus on initiatives that seek to address individual lifestyle and health behaviour change targeted at specific population groups of men, whilst simultaneously acknowledging the important role that systemic and structural factors play in shaping health outcomes in men. The continued focus on collaboration and partnership is commendable and will continue to be the cornerstone of future men’s health work.”

The plan calls for an increased focus on healthy masculinities, as the basis for boys and men to be more actively engaged in their health and wellbeing and in the pursuit of gender equality. Actions seek to build on a relational approach to gender, which is mutually beneficial in terms of women’s and men’s health and wellbeing.

Areas of focus in plan include:

• Supporting Engage Men’s Health Training in developing farmer wellbeing in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine and the Department of Health and for workers in the health, social care and community sector in targeting men effectively
• CAIRDE - a mental health and suicide prevention intervention for men in the Irish construction sector
• Sheds for Life Programme targeting members of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association.

The plan aligns with Sláintecare and the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan and contains a number of actions seeking to engage men in their health and wellbeing, supported by a range of HSE functions and partner agencies.

The second report was unveiled at a launch webinar today. Special guests included Peter Baker, Director of Global Action on Men’s Health and John Wall, patient advocate for Men’s Health as well as representatives from the HSE, Department of Health and partner agencies.