A recent study conducted by Movember, the leading men's health charity, reveals that while 82% of men recognise how important good mental health is for overall wellbeing, close to half (44% ) of men in Ireland believe their social health and habits are unhealthy and over one-third of men say that they are struggling with their mental health.
As Movember moves into its 21st year, its new 'State of the Nation' survey revealed some hard truths about the state of men's health in Ireland. For younger men in lower socio-economic areas, aged 25 to 34 years, 41% of men consider their mental health to be in rough shape.
One fifth of Irish men feel uncomfortable talking about their mental health with close friends, with this rising 56% in the West of Ireland. One in ten men feel that they don't have a solid support network to lean on, yet 84% say they would seek help if they felt their mental health was in trouble.
Loneliness is also an issue for men with almost 20% of men aged 25 to 34 report often feeling lonely.
Physically, two-thirds of men rank their health as "average", but nearly half of younger men (25 to 34 y/o ) think they are physically unhealthy.
Tackling men's health, one moustache at a time, Movember has grown into a global movement committed to stopping men from dying too young by focusing on mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.
When it comes to cancer, there’s a surprising knowledge gap. Research earlier this year from Movember uncovered that nearly one third (30% ) of men in Ireland don’t know how to check their testicles for early signs and 1 in 5 men never check their testicles. Almost three quarters (62% ) of men weren’t aware that testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers within young men aged 15-40 or that one in eight men in Ireland will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Socially, nearly half of Irish men (44% ) think their social habits aren’t where they should be, with men (25 to 54 y/o ) feeling the biggest hit. Over a fifth believe social media has a negative effect on their mental health, with this rising to 27% in men aged 25-34 y/o.
Initiatives like Movember Ahead of the Game, in partnership with the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association (GPA ) is changing that narrative, bringing men together to build resilience and stronger social connections. This evidence-based emotional literacy programme designed for delivery in a sports club setting kicked off earlier this year and with already 176 clubs across the 32 counties having taken part, it’s a game changer in more ways than one.
Movember Country Director, Sarah Ouellette said: "As we head into our 21st year of Movember, the mission to tackle the critical health issues facing men in Ireland has never been greater. There are fathers, brothers, partners, friends, colleagues behind each of these statistics whose lives could be cut short far too soon. Over the past two decades, together with our amazing Movember community, we’ve made a real difference, but we've seen from the state of the nation results that there is still work to be done. You’ve helped us create an entire support network that’s changing the way men think about their health. The fight goes on. We’re all in - raising vital funds and sparking life-saving conversations".
Join the Order of the Mo this November. The time is now. Ireland let’s change the face of men’s health together. Sign up now: ie.movember.com
