International Men’s Day an opportunity to raise our ambition on men’s health

International Men’s Day is an opportunity to raise our ambition in the next Men’s Health Action Plan, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Seán Kyne, who is a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, was speaking in the Seanad ahead of International Men’s Day which takes place this Friday, 19th November. Senator Kyne received confirmation that work is set to begin on a new Men’s Health Action Plan.

“One of the core themes of International Men’s Day is raising awareness of the health and wellbeing of men and boys at every stage of life. Ireland was the first country in the world to develop a National Men’s Health Policy with a corresponding action plan and we have made good progress,” said Senator Kyne.

“The HSE-funded report, compiled by the Men’s Health Forum, for example, shows that life expectancy for men in Ireland has increased by over 3 years since 2007 and the number of men who smoke has fallen by almost 40% in the same period. Deaths due to circulatory diseases like heart disease, have also decreased and the number of male suicides has fallen by 30% since 2012.

“There can be no doubt that the National Men’s Health Policy, with a co-ordinated and focused approach, has helped achieve these results. However, there are also some stark challenges that urgently need to be addressed.

“Ireland, for example, has the highest rate of diagnosed prostate cancer in the EU. The incidence rate of non-melanoma skin cancer in men has doubled since 1994 and the death rate for men in Ireland from respiratory diseases like lung cancer, among other cancers, is higher than the EU average.

“There’s also a demographic challenge facing us. The number of men aged 70 and over will more than double over the next 30 years, while the number of men aged 80 and over will more than triple.

“I raised this matter in the Seanad today with Minister Norma Foley, who was there on behalf of Minister Mary Butler and she gave me a direct update from the Department of Health. The Minister confirmed to me that that The HSE Men’s Health Advisory Group is working on a new Action Plan and that work is beginning on this in the coming months.

“This is very welcome as we need to raise our ambition in the area of men’s health. It’s clear that we need to redouble our efforts through a new National Men’s Health Policy and Action Plan which strives to build on the progress to date.

“The Plan must focus not only on individual lifestyle and behaviour choices but also on improved access to supports and services. It must also pursue a more holistic approach that recognises how essential meaningful employment, high quality infrastructure and recreation facilities are to health and wellbeing,” added Senator Kyne.