The report was commissioned to inform the development of a national policy for men’s health in Ireland and will provide critical knowledge.  

The report will be launched at the Ferrycarrig Hotel, Wexford, on December 1^st 2004 at 11am , by Mr Seán Power, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children. The launch of the report coincides with the first National Conference on Men’s Health in Ireland .  

Speaking in advance of the launch:  Mr Pat McLoughlin (Chief Executive Officer South Eastern Health Board) stated:  

“Getting Inside Men’s Health addresses in a very meaningful way, the issues that underpin the rather grave statistics that exist in relation to men’s health. As the report shows, the culture in which a man finds himself has a crucial bearing on his health status. The recommendations contained in the report offer a clear blueprint for developing policy and service-delivery measures for Irish men in the years ahead.”  

Mr. Noel Richardson (author of Getting Inside Men’s Health)

While men have traditionally been the predominant players in terms of health policy and health service delivery, rarely has the spotlight focused on men’s own health, at a personal or individual level. This report is a welcome opportunity to get the inside track on how men understand health, how they mange themselves through ill health, and the factors that influence the way in which they look after their health. The report is a tribute to all of the men in the south-east who gave generously of their time during the research process.

Some of the key findings in the report are listed:  

            Men tend not to be health conscious or proactive about their health

For many Irish men, it appears that health has simply never been on their agenda. Sadly, it may be on foot of a ‘wake-up call’ such as a health crisis, that they become conscious or proactive about their health. This is compounded by young men’s sense of invincibility.

            Men’s knowledge of fundamental health issues remains poor

Less than half of men surveyed knew what the function of the prostate gland was, while over a third were not aware of some of common prostate cancer symptoms

Three out of four men aged 18-29 were not aware that young men were at highest risk of developing testicular cancer  

            There is an overall lack of a preventative health ethos among Irish men

Just one in five drinkers reported monitoring their own alcohol consumption

Three out of four men aged 50 and over reported never having had a Digital Rectal Examination (prostate cancer check)

Just one in seven men aged 18-29 reported practicing Testicular Self Examinations monthly
            Men go to their GPs reluctantly
Over half of men surveyed expressed varying degrees of reluctance to attend their GP, with women playing a key role in prompting ‘reluctant attenders’ to go.  

            Men are very often afraid to seek help
Many men expressed fear or anxiety about going to the doctor, with fear appearing under many guises.  – silence, denial, procrastination, fatalism, the notion of a self-healing ability. It also appears that the fear and uncertainty of ‘what might be wrong’ may pose a bigger threat to men’s health, than the reality of ill-health itself.  

            Coping with illness – a sliding scale of acceptability
For many men, there appears to be a sliding scale of acceptability in terms of how they cope with different illnesses. The continued stigma that is perceived to be associated with depression for example, appears to prompt some men to  ‘self-medicate’ with alcohol, and/or to resort to violent behaviour, rather than to seek help.
            Alcohol – omnipresent in men’s health
It is clear from this report that a ‘drinking culture’ is endemic in Irish society. The ‘drinking man’ continues to be upheld with considerable honour even by his more abstemious male peers. Half of those consuming over 50 units per week (i.e. over twice the recommended maximum limit), considered themselves to be ‘moderate’ drinkers, while nine out of ten ‘weekly’ binge drinkers similarly considered themselves to be ‘light’ or ‘moderate’ drinkers. Alcohol advertising poses a real challenge to men’s health, in that it connects alcohol use with connotations of sexual prowess, and the achievement of optimum performance in sport.  

            Taking risks synonymous with ‘being a man’
There was strong evidence that risk-taking behaviour is seen as an integral part of defining ones masculinity, and of ‘being a man’. The issue of male violence for example was found to be an obligatory way of defining and sustaining allegiance to male peer groups.

            Men’s struggle with emotional/mental health issues
Three out of four men surveyed reported adopting strategies of ‘avoidance’ or ‘silence’ in the way that they managed themselves through an emotional or mental health issue.

            Fatherhood also associated in a positive way with men’s health
Men associated an increased health consciousness with becoming a father. For example, two-thirds of all fathers reported taking fewer risks with their health on becoming a father.