‘Irish men must take action' in wake of worrying report about poor health and premature death

The approach now is to support men in looking out for each other, pointing out for instance that 'farmers listen to other farmers'. This is why health checks or talks are more visible now at marts and events such as the Ploughing Championships. Picture: Dan Linehan

Men need to “step up to the plate” and take action about their health to change the high level of early deaths due to preventable illnesses, a leading men’s health advocate has urged.

This follows worrying news during the week that over 40% of men in Ireland die before the age of 75. 

Noel Richardson, director at the National Centre for Men’s Health in the South-East Technological University, called on men to find out how they can live well and for longer.

“This is an issue for men to take on,” he said. “The call to action is for men to step up to the plate and take more responsibility.”

He was lead author on the report from men’s health charity Movember which highlighted deaths from heart disease and cancer among other challenges for men.

It also said men in the most deprived areas are expected to live five years less than men in the most well-off areas.

For me there’s an acceptance that somehow men are destined to die younger than women, but the reality is they’re not. 

He added: “The majority of these deaths are down to lifestyle behaviours, underpinned by social class and other structural determinants of health.”

Health information is being made more available through workplaces including the construction sector, he said. Community groups such as sports clubs and men’s sheds are also key to sharing information.

“Suicide in the construction industry is at a higher rate than in other industries,” he said.

National Centre for Men’s Health director Noel Richardson: The majority of these deaths are down to lifestyle behaviours, underpinned by social class and other structural determinants of health.' File picture

He added: “It tends to be a volatile industry — they’re either really busy or there’s a crash and there’s no work. 

"There’s long hours, there can be a culture of bullying and hypermasculinity, long commute times, and a diversity of nationalities so language is often a barrier. So it’s a complex mix of things.”

The approach now is to support men in looking out for each other, he explained.

“[We can] upskill gate-keepers in the workplace and give them the skills to identify workers who may be in distress,” he said.

Health groups have found for example “farmers listen to other farmers”, he said.

This is why health checks or talks are more visible at marts and events such as the Ploughing Championships.

In the report, The Real Face of Men’s Health, Movember called on Government to invest an initial €10m to implement the national men’s health action plan.

Movember country manager Sarah Ouellette said the report shows “Irish men are dying too young from preventable causes, and too many are living with poor health.”

There is “huge unease” around men’s mental health, she said, pointing to data showing four in five people who die by suicide are male. She also called for “positive change” saying access to screening and early diagnosis of illnesses needs to improve.