MHF welcomes policy publication in Ireland

The Forum has welcomed publication today of a men's health policy for Ireland.

The document, launched in Dublin by Mary Wallace, the Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Health Promotion and Food Safety, was developed by the Department of Health and Children, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive and other stakeholders and co-authored by Dr Noel Richardson of the Centre for Men's Health Research and Training at the Institute of Technology Carlow.

'This National Men's Health Policy will be a hugely important resource to all those working in the area of men's health,' Dr Richardson said. 'It addresses the different challenges that men face in managing their health, and provides a blueprint to service providers across a number of sectors to support men to take increased responsibility for their own health. The need for an increased policy focus on men's health is now all the more pressing as we face into a difficult economic climate'.

Mary Wallace reportedly said that in the present economic climate it is not possible to provide additional resources to assist in the implementation of any of the recommendations and actions contained in the policy.

MHF CEO Peter Baker said: 'This policy is superb news. We've seen a similar initiative in Australia and now Ireland has set a fine example for other European countries to follow.'

Male life expectancy in Ireland is almost five years lower than female life expectancy (77.1 years to 81.8) and men in Ireland have higher death rates for most of the leading causes of death across the lifespan. The burden of ill health and mortality is borne, in particular, by men from the lower socioeconomic groups. These men are up to 6 times more likely to die from the leading causes of death than men from the highest socioeconomic group.

• Download the policy from the Irish health department