The HSE is encouraging men to set simple, realistic and practical tasks 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.
This year the theme for MHW is ‘The Picture of Health’ and the call to men (and those who support the health of men) will be: What does that look like to you?
To coincide with the beginning of MHW the HSE is inviting you to a free, uplifting webinar on Monday, 12th June 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.
Research shows that men experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health and die too young:
- 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.
- 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 says: “While 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), there are also simple, practical and realistic things which we can all do to improve our 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!”
Each day of MHW 2023 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: “The strength of the week is that everyone can get involved and do something to support men and boys health. Over 95 agencies are involved in the 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.”
The HSE Health & Wellbeing podcast recently produced a piece on Men’s Heath Week – Why it Matters which can be listened back to HERE.
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