OPINION (AN COLÚN): Excellent, non-patronising advice for Offaly men

THIS week is Men's Health Week, a movement which doesn't lecture, hector or patronise, but approaches its subject matter in an intelligent and down to earth manner.
The celebration of Men's Health Week on our beautiful island grew from a small number of people handing out a few posters in 2005, to what it is today - almost 100 groups working together to plan and shape the week on an all-island basis; running hundreds of events, engaging tens of thousands of men, and distributing over one hundred thousand resources.
International Men's Health Week (MHW) always begins on the Monday before Father's Day and ends on Father's Day itself. This year it's running from Monday 9th until Sunday 15th June. It is celebrated in many European countries, as well as in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and a number of other places worldwide.
Things have improved since 2005. Back then we were unaware of the full extent of men’s poor health status and the specific health issues that they are contending with. However, this is no longer the case. In recent years, a broad range of research has highlighted the health challenges which face men in Ireland.
This research shows that men on the island of Ireland experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health:
- Men continue to die, on average, younger than women do.
- Some groups of men have much worse health than other men.
- Poor lifestyles (including smoking, drinking, diet and lack of exercise) are responsible for a high proportion of chronic diseases.
- Males have higher death rates than women for almost all of the leading causes of death, and at all ages.
- Men’s mental health needs are often not recognised or met.
- Late presentation to health services can lead to a large number of problems becoming untreatable.
The theme for this year's week is 'Shoulder to Shoulder - Connecting for Health'. It focuses upon the importance of connectivity and helping each other - reminding everyone about the importance of not going it alone, that there are supports available, that men’s health is a team effort and that it is important to take small, simple and realistic actions within a supportive environment.
Lorcan Brennan, Training and Resource Development Manager in the Men’s Development Network, points out: “When males play sport together, or work on a communal task, we know what is meant by men standing ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’. They are unified, strong, resolute, focused, supportive and connected. They give 100% and do the best job that they can. During Men's Health Week, everyone is being asked to put these positive traits into action, to connect for health, and to work together to support the health of men and boys on the island of Ireland. We are calling upon policy makers to ensure that men have the resources to live long and healthy lives; service providers to offer appropriate tools, advice and support to males; men to take small practical steps to improve their own health; everyone to look out for and after each other.”
To support men, an updated ‘Action Man’ Manual has been produced - in both hard copy and as an online download. During Men’s Health Week 2025, men are encouraged to get a copy of this free booklet, which has been specifically written for men in all parts of Ireland.
The Manual points out that some aspects of our health are determined by things which are beyond our control (such as genetics, our income, the environment that we live in and our access to services). However, there are also simple, practical and realistic things which we can all do to improve our health and live a longer life. “None of these are rocket science,” the booklet says, “and many are really just plain old straightforward common sense. This booklet doesn’t preach or lecture – it simply explains:
WHY an action is needed.
WHAT can be done about it.
HOW to find support if you need it.”
Some of the many excellent points in the booklet include:
1. Physical Fitness: As men get older many tend to stop doing sport when they feel that they can no longer take part competitively. However, regular physical activity reduces stress; improves your sleep patterns; builds up your bone and muscle strength; and makes you feel full of energy. The more exercise you do, the happier you will feel. That's because your body will release endorphins (hormones), which are the body's feel-good chemicals, which reduce your stress and put you in a positive state of mind.
2. Mental Fitness: It's good to think about our “mental health” in terms of “mind fitness” i.e. something that will go up and down, change over time and (most importantly) something that we can exercise a degree of control over - if we choose to.