International Men's Day takes place on the 19 November. The theme this year is 'Make a difference for men and boys'. Objectives include a focus on men's and boy's health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models.
Men face particular health challenges and experience many health inequalities. Suicide and deliberate self-harm particularly affect men. Two reports published in 2015 highlighted this in Ireland.
The National Office for Suicide Preventation (NOSP) Annual Report (2014) found
- Rate of suicide among men was more than four times than the rate among women
- Male suicide peaked among the 45-54 age group.
The National Self-Harm Registry Ireland (NSRF) Annual Report (2014) found
- 1 in 184 men aged 20-24 in Republic of Ireland presented to hospital as a consequence of self-harm in 2014
- Over 40% increase in number of hospital treated self-harm episodes among boys aged 10-14 in the Republic of Ireland
This reflects findings from IPH reports. IPH has continuely identified the health inequalities men experience throughout our work. The IPH co-ordinated all-island report on the Young men and suicide project (2013) identified a range of possible means to promote positive mental health mong young men on the island of Ireland. The IPH report 'Facing the Challenge - The impact of the recession and unemployment on Men's Health in Ireland' identified a strong expectation of increased mental health problems for men given the very strong correlation between unemployment and mal mental ill health. The report was based on research carried out in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland by Nexus Research Cooperative.
