Men in Ireland continue to experience a disproportionate burden of ill health, the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) has warned.

Men currently have higher death rates than women in almost all of the leading causes of death and at all ages, and late presentation to health services can lead to a number of problems becoming untreatable, MHFI said.

It is calling on everyone on the island of Ireland to take action to improve the health of men and boys as part of International Men’s Health Week. The aim of this event, which runs from June 13-19, is to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage males to seek help or treatment at an early stage.

According to Dr Noel Richardson, Director of the National Centre for Men’s Health in South East Technological University, while some of the figures around men’s health are startling, “this is not a lost cause”.

“This situation can be improved in many significant ways. For me, the key message for Men’s Health Week is that small things can really make a difference - whether it’s going for a walk, taking time out or re-connecting with a friend. It’s about doing something positive for yourself and building momentum towards positive change, one step at a time,” he said.

Men’s Health Week 2022 takes place after a very tough two years as a result of the Covid pandemic. After living with so many restrictions for so long, this year’s event hopes to focus on what can be done do to take back control of our health.

This year, everyone is asked to focus on small, simple and practical things to

improve their health, for example:

-Visiting your GP if you have any health concerns

-Reconnecting with family and friends

-Reflecting on your mental health.

Meanwhile, the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) is also reminding men that they can seek advice from their local pharmacist on a range of health issues.

“It is important that we understand the main health concerns facing Irish men and the barriers to seeking treatment that may exist. Pharmacists can advise men and provide treatment for a range of different health issues and minor ailments. Too often, men put off dealing with their health issues when many of these are preventable and easily detectable. Your local pharmacist can offer advice on health problems in a private consultation room,” explained IPU member and community pharmacist, Tomás Conefrey.

International Men’s Health Week is celebrated across Europe, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The event in Ireland is coordinated by MHFI with the support of over 95 partner organisations. The theme for this year’s event in Ireland is ‘Mission: isPossible’ and an information booklet on the challenges and choices facing men can be viewed here.

For more information on MHFI, click here.