International Men’s Health Week (MHW) 2022will conclude this Sunday, Fathers’ Day, June 19.
This international event has three key aims:
- Heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages.
- Support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices / activities.
- Encourage the early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males.
Males constitute almost 50% of the population on the island of Ireland and, therefore, deserve to have a gender lens focused upon their specific health needs. 
Research clearly shows that these men experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health and die too young.
- Local men die younger than women 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.
- Late presentation to health services can lead to a large number of problems becoming untreatable.
Indeed, while many of these conditions are preventable, their prevalence amongst men may, in fact, rise in the future.
For a couple of years now, COVID placed a myriad of boundaries upon the activities of Men’s Health Week. This year’s event aimed to reverse this trend, and focuses upon what we can do to take back control of our own health.
The theme was ‘MISSION: isPOSSIBLE‘ and throughout the week men and those that care for them have been encouraged that ‘The Action Starts with You’.
All too often we set ourselves unrealistic or impractical targets. This year, everyone is asked to make new choices and to realise that where there’s a will, there’s a way.
The celebration of Men’s Health Week on the island of Ireland in 2022 is being funded by the Health Service Executive Health and Wellbeing, Healthy Ireland within the Department of Health and the Public Health Agency.
