Ireland was the first country in the world to adopt a National Men’s Health Policy.
There remains an urgent need to maintain a specific focus on men’s health.
This is grounded in continued sex differences in life expectancy and mortality, health inequalities between different subpopulations of men, a substantial body of evidence supporting a gender-specific approach to engage more effectively with men, and the imperative to build on progress achieved to date.
Underpinning this progress has been an explicit focus on gender-specific strategies related to community engagement, capacity building, partnership and sustainability.
"A men's health issue is a disease or condition unique to men, more prevalent in men, more serious among men, for which risk factors are different for men, or for which different interventions are required for men" (Fletcher 1996)
Men, on the island of Ireland, experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health.
There is growing evidence that in constructing, displaying and maintaining their male identity, men engage in risk behaviours that can be seriously hazardous to their health.
Since sickness may be seen as an expression of weakness, many men may decide not to seek help and, instead, present a stoical, brave and unflinching front to the outside world.
This may account, in part, for why - despite their health profile - men in Ireland are reluctant users of health services and continue to present (too) late in the course of an illness. (Men’s Health Forum in Ireland)
Cork County Muintir na Tire In Association with Blarney Men's Shed Blarney GAA Club On Friday Morning Oct 4th at 10.30am are hosting an informal look at the reality of men's lives especially after retirement or redundancy. This informal session seeks to give men a voice about the Issues they Face in Living Healthy Active Lives.
Speakers Pauline Lynch Diabetes Ireland and Martin Ryan HSE Connecting for Life
MC Paddy O Regan
Followed by Refreshments and Fun.
Free Admission
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