Irish men are dying younger than they should, and in many cases from illnesses and problems that could be prevented.
That’s the stark warning from a new study which reveals that two in five male deaths are premature and that men are 40 per cent more likely to die early than women.
The Real Face of Men’s Health report, launched today by Movember, paints a troubling picture of the pressures facing men in Ireland today, from heart disease and lung cancer to suicide and the silent struggles many face in accessing care.
The study shows that men living in the most deprived parts of the country are 150 per cent more likely to die before 75 than those in the least deprived areas.
It also finds that the five leading causes of years of life lost among Irish men cost the economy more than €1 billion in 2023, with €716 million of that considered preventable.
Produced in partnership with the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland and the National Centre for Men’s Health at South East Technological University, the report is calling for urgent cross-Government action to accelerate the roll-out of the National Men’s Health Action Plan.
Researchers say barriers remain a key issue. GPs surveyed identified lack of time and men’s reluctance to talk about sensitive subjects as the biggest obstacles to care.
Fewer than one in three doctors felt they had a strong understanding of men’s health. Mental health emerged as a particularly serious concern.
Four out of five suicides in Ireland are male, and almost all GPs reported treating men who presented with suicide or suicidal thoughts over the past year.
On average, each GP saw 15 male patients in that period who were struggling with suicidal behaviour, mostly between the ages of 18 and 54.
Stigma, the pressure to appear self-reliant, lack of support networks and fears about career consequences were highlighted as reasons many men stay silent.
The report also captures the knock-on effects of men’s poor health on their families and communities.
Six in ten carers, the majority of them women, reported a decline in their own mental health, while over two-thirds said their energy levels were badly affected.
More than six in ten said caring responsibilities left them constantly anxious, while eight in ten said that the barriers men face in accessing healthcare directly reduced the quality of care they could provide.
The financial burden is stark. Coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and suicide are the top five causes of lost years of life among Irish men.
Together, they cost the State over €1 billion last year, but HealthLumen’s research suggests that more than €700 million of this could have been saved if preventable cases had been avoided.
Public concern about the state of men’s health is high.
Three quarters of Irish adults say they are worried, with suicide, loneliness and mental health topping the list.
Six in ten believe young men are struggling to find purpose compared with previous generations, while three in five fathers say they feel unsupported in their role and believe society does not provide enough recognition or backing for men as parents.
Movember and its partners are urging the Government to back the National Men’s Health Action Plan 2024–2028 with an immediate €10 million investment, as well as commissioning a full cost analysis and developing a cross-Government statement on men’s health.
“Irish men are dying too young from preventable causes, and too many are living with poor health,” said Sarah Ouellette, Movember’s Country Manager.
“Suicide remains the leading cause of death among young men aged 15 to 29.
“Men’s health is not only about men, it’s about families, carers and society as a whole.
“We are calling on the Government to commit to the ambitions of the National Men’s Health Action Plan and invest an initial €10 million to progress it.”
Dr Noel Richardson, Director of the National Centre for Men’s Health at SETU and lead author of the report, said the findings provide an evidence base for urgent action. “This landmark report sheds considerable light on the state of men’s health in Ireland today and the range of factors that shape outcomes.
“It makes a compelling case that men’s health matters and that improving it benefits not just men but also women, children and wider communities.
“Most importantly, the report can be a catalyst for positive change in men’s lives by appealing to men to protect their most valuable asset – their health.”
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said Ireland has been a global leader in men’s health, being the first country to adopt a National Men’s Health Policy in 2009.
She noted progress but stressed the need for momentum. “My department supports this important work with funding for the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, Men’s Development Network and Men’s Health Forum in Ireland, as well as partnerships with the Department of Agriculture and the HSE,” she said.
“The findings in the Real Face of Men’s Health report will be a valuable tool in building on the advancements made to date.”
The launch was supported by Grammy-winning musician Cian Ducrot and former world champion boxer Barry McGuigan. Ducrot described the findings as “hard hitting” and a wake-up call for change.
“It shines a light on the lived experiences of men and spotlights the biggest barriers to a man in Ireland taking action to address a health concern,” he said.
McGuigan called the report a milestone moment. “The findings demonstrate the urgent need to take real and meaningful action to positively address the barriers to men accessing healthcare.
“The report findings are stark, but it also provides solutions.
“There is now a real opportunity for those involved in our healthcare system to implement initiatives that can have a real and positive impact in the lives of men in Ireland, and beyond in families and communities.”