Men in Ireland are dying too young of causes that are largely preventable, according to new findings from the Real Face of Men’s Health report launched recently by Movember. The report reveals that two-in-five (40.2 per cent) of all male deaths were premature and that men are 40 per cent more likely to die prematurely than women, across each of the five leading causes.
Men living in the most deprived areas in Ireland were 150 per cent more likely to die before the age of 75 than those living in the least-deprived areas. Health economic analysis for the report also reveals that the five leading causes of years of life lost among Irish men cost over €1 billion in 2023 alone, €716 million of which could have been prevented.
The report, produced in partnership with the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland and the National Centre for Men’s Health (SETU), calls for cross-Government support to expedite the roll out of the National Men’s Health Action Plan throughout Ireland.
The report is a first of its kind to examine the reality of men’s health in Ireland today and is being supported by Irish Grammy winning musician Cian Ducrot and sporting legend Barry McGuigan.
The report provides a comprehensive assessment of men’s health in Ireland, combining new research and analysis.
It details the barriers for men accessing healthcare, the wider impact of men’s ill health beyond the individual, extending to partners, families and communities, as well as the economic costs to the country. It is informed by a nationally representative sample of 2,000 Irish adults plus almost 1,000 caregivers and clinicians combined.
Key findings:
Barriers to health: GPs said that the two biggest barriers to addressing men’s health issues were a lack of time and men’s reluctance to discuss sensitive topics. Fewer than one-in-three GPs (29 per cent) felt they had a very good understanding of men’s health. When it came to men specifically addressing mental health concerns, GPs cited stigma, social norms around self-reliance, lack of support networks, and fear of career impact as barriers to proactively seeking support.
Mental health: Mental health remains a critical concern. Men account for four in every five suicides (79 per cent), and over nine-in-10 GPs (97 per cent) encountered men presenting with suicide or suicidal ideation in the past year. On average, GPs reported seeing 15 male patients per year presenting with suicidal behaviour, with most cases in the 18-to-34 year-old and 35-to-54 age group.
The ripple effect of men’s health: The report highlights the ripple effect of men’s ill-health, showing the impact goes beyond the individual, impacting families and communities. Six-in-ten (60 per cent) carers of men — the majority women — reported a decline in their own mental health; 68 per cent said there was an impact on personal energy, and over six-in-10 (65 per cent) experienced frequent worry and anxiety because of caring responsibilities.
Financial costs: New research by HealthLumen estimates the costs of the five causes of the largest number of years of life lost to ill health for men in Ireland — coronary heart disease; stroke; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; lung cancer; and suicide. This means that if all these preventable health issues had been avoided in men, Ireland could have potentially saved a total of €716 million in 2023 alone.
The report calls on the Government to recognise the need to progress the National Men’s Health Action Plan 2024- 2028 with a number of recommendations, including investing an initial €10m in
the plan, in tandem with commissioning a full cost analysis, and prioritising the development of a cross-Government Policy Statement on Men’s Health.
Men’s health is a unifying issue among the public, with three-quarters of Irish adults (75 per cent) expressing concern around the current state of men’s health, in particular suicide (75 per cent), loneliness (70 per cent), and men’s mental health challenges (62 per cent).
Over six-in-10 adults (62 per cent) believe young men are struggling to find purpose in society compared to previous generations. Three-in-five Irish dads (61 per cent) also indicated they don’t feel supported within their roles and that there is a lack of understanding and support for men as part of the fatherhood journey.
