Finian Murray
Member, Men’s Health Forum in Ireland Advisory Group and Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer for Men’s Health, Health Service Executive
‘World Cup Fever’ is in the air. Men across Ireland have planned their viewing schedules, stockpiled enough refreshments to see them through a nuclear winter and made arrangements with their friends to share this four-yearly experience.
The World Cup has created a common bond among many local men. They have a reason to be in each other’s company. They are well-informed about what lies ahead. They are motivated, excited and enthusiastic. They are likely to show more emotion than usual —they’ve obviously caught a bug. Maybe ‘World Cup Fever’ is a medical condition after all.
Men’s health risks
There is clear evidence that men in Ireland are facing other medical conditions that attract much less attention. Put simply, local males experience a disproportionate burden of ill health and die too young. They —
- [Mostly] die younger than women;
- Have higher death rates for almost all of the leading causes of death and at all ages;
- Adopt lifestyles that can cause chronic diseases;
- Often present too late to health services for effective treatment;
- Are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviours (eg. speeding, drunk driving);
- Eat less healthy, are more likely to be overweight and drink more alcohol;
- Have mental health needs which often remain under the radar and unmet.
The Republic of Ireland was the first country to adopt a National Men’s Health Policy and, subsequently, a Healthy Ireland – Men Action Plan.
An interesting fact
The Republic of Ireland was the first country to adopt a National Men’s Health Policy and, subsequently, a Healthy Ireland – Men Action Plan. This action plan is now being reviewed and updated. It provides both the bedrock of and a mandate for, a focus on men’s health needs.
Men’s health initiatives
There are many practical initiatives which have been piloted in Ireland to improve men’s health. These include Men’s Health in Numbers; Men’s Health Week; The Engage National Men’s Health Training Programme; Farmers Have Hearts; Sheds for Life; Men on the Move; GAA Healthy Club Project; HSE ‘Engaging Men’ and ‘Masculinities and Men’s Health’ webinars.
These initiatives demonstrate that men are (contrary to public perception) interested in their health — if we offer them the right things in the right ways. The Irish squad may not be through to the final stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but we can still use this time of ‘goodwill among all men’ to focus on male health needs and play our part to improve the lot of men and boys — now, that would be a momentous win on the world stage!
