HSE encourages men to improve their health this Men’s Health Week 2023

The HSE, together with the Men’s Health Forum Ireland and a host of other partner organisations is marking Men’s Health Week 2023 starting on Monday June 12 and ending on June 18. 

With the theme ‘The Picture of Health’, this year's campaign encourages men to take small steps to improve mental health. 

To coincide with the beginning of MHW, the HSE invites you to a free, uplifting webinar on Monday, June 12, at noon with special guest Dr Mark Rowe. Mark is an Expert in Positive Health & Lifestyle Medicine as well as a Medical Doctor, Author, TedX Speaker and Vitality Expert. Register here.

Men experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health and die too young; Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) research found: 

• Males die younger than females do;
• Males have higher death rates than females for almost all of the leading causes of death and at all ages;
• Men’s poorer lifestyles are responsible for a high proportion of chronic diseases; and
• Late presentation to health services can lead to a large number of problems becoming untreatable. 

Dr Noel Richardson, Health & Wellbeing, HSE and senior lecturer and Director of healthCORE at IT Carlow explains while some aspects of men's health are beyond their control, such as genetics, income, environment and access to services, there are also simple, practical and realistic things that men can do to improve their health and live a longer life. 

“This year, we are asking men to reflect on what the picture of health looks like to them. All too often we set ourselves unrealistic or impractical targets. However, this year, everyone is being asked to set themselves a simple goal or goals to improve the health of men, and to go for it”, he said. 

For this year, each day of MHW has been allocated a specific theme: 

• Monday 12th June: Trash the ash [quitting smoking]
• Tuesday 13th June: Prevention is better than cure
• Wednesday 14th June: Food for thought [healthy eating]
• Thursday 15th June: What do you depend on? [a focus upon addictions such as alcohol, gambling, drugs, sex, internet access] 
• Friday 16th June: Mental fitness
• Saturday 17th June: Let’s get physical - be more than a sports spectator [physical activity for all]
• Sunday 18th June: Father’s Day [the important role that fathers play in ensuring that their children have healthy lives]. 

Fergal Fox, General Manager, Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Communications, HSE Health & Wellbeing says that there are over 95 agencies involved in all-island planning group with the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland all doing various activities in communities and online to bring the week to life for people.

“Many HSE staff work to promote Men’s Health Week with their service users and work with their local partner agencies to raise awareness about activities in their areas”, added. 

International Men's Health Week (MHW) is celebrated in many European countries, as well as in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and a number of other places worldwide. The overall aims of MHW are to:

• Heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages;
• Support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices/activities; and
• Encourage the early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males.

The HSE Health & Wellbeing podcast recently produced a piece on Men’s Heath Week – Why it Matters, which can be listened here.