Irish soccer managers Michael O’Neill and Martin O’Neill kick off Men’s Health Week

IRISH SOCCER managers Michael O’Neill and Martin O’Neill are featuring in an island-wide poster campaign under the banner of “Men United for Health and Wellbeing” to launch Men’s Health Week from next Monday as they kick off the Euro 2016 Championship.

And new Health Minister Michelle O’Neill from Sinn Féin has joined the lads to try and muster more support for the initiative which she backs.

Some 8,000 copies of the Men’s Health Weekposter, 12,000 postcards, and 47,000 copies of the Man Manual  booklet have been given out.

● Health Minister Michelle O'Neill with the Men’s Health Week team launch at Stormont

Colin Fowler, Director of Operations for the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland, points out:-

• Men in Ireland die, on average, almost four and a half years younger than women do.
• Males have higher death rates than women for all of the leading causes of death and at all ages.
• Poor lifestyles are responsible for a high proportion of chronic diseases.
• Late presentation to health services leads to a large number of problems becoming untreatable.”

“This high level of premature mortality amongst men in Ireland has far-reaching repercussions far beyond the life satisfaction of men themselves,” Colin Fowler says. “It affects not only industry and commerce but also impacts upon the social and financial positions of families. However, just like in the Euro 2016 Championship, Men’s Health Week this year calls upon men to unite and work together for change.

“Everyone on the island of Ireland is encouraged to ask themselves the question ‘Are we winning?’ in relation to men’s health. If the answer is ‘No’ then it’s time to do something to remedy this situation.”

To support Men’s Health Week 2016, the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland has produced a free 32-page Man Manual with the heading “Challenges and Choices” and says:

“Warning – Reading this manual can seriously improve your health.”

It goes on to issue a series of ten simple, practical challenges to local men:

1. Order a soft drink the next time you’re in the pub.

2. Try some fruit or vegetables you’ve never tasted before or think you don’t like.

3. Make at least one journey by foot or bicycle instead of going by car.

4. If you’re under 25 and sexually active, get yourself checked for chlamydia.

5. Stressed out? Walk away from tense situations before you blow up.

6. Find out about the opening hours at your local GP’s surgery.

7. Get your blood pressure checked within the next two weeks.

8. Get a mate to quit smoking with you – and get advice on how to stop.

9. Show a doctor that lump, strange-shaped mole, or rash that’s bothering you.

10. If you get backache, don’t let it become a pain in the ass. Get it sorted.

Each challenge is accompanied by a reason why it is important to take action, a menu of possible choices available, and where to find help.

Most importantly, it provides this information in a straightforward, step-by-step, humorous and commonsense way.

Helping to launch Men’s Health Week, Health Minister Michelle O’Neill said:

“Evidence clearly shows that there are many challenges to be faced when seeking to improve men’s health. However, it also highlights that men’s health can be improved in many significant ways if men make the right choices and are given the support, encouragement and opportunities to succeed.

“This Man Manual provides the information and the tools, and Men’s Health Week offers men across Ireland the opportunity to make a positive change.

“I am delighted that the Public Health Agency was able to support the production of this much-requested booklet.”