NatioNal MeN’s HealtH actioN PlaN HealtHy Ireland - Men · PDF file8 i Foreword Ireland was the firstcountry in the world to adopt a National Men’s Health Policy, and other countries

NatioNal MeN’s HealtH actioN PlaN

HealtHy Ireland - MenHI-M 2017-2021

Working with men in Ireland to achieve optimum health and wellbeing

Citation: Health Service Executive, 2016

contents

Foreword i

abbreviations iii

executive Summary 1

Part 1: Preamble 3

ireland’s pioneering role in men’s health policy development 3

National Men’s Health Policy Review 4

Therationaleformaintainingaspecificfocusonmen’shealth 4

Evidencesupportinggender-specificor‘men-friendly’approaches 5

Buildingonthemomentumandkeymilestonesachievedtodate 6

Part 2: National Men’s Health Action Plan; Healthy Ireland - Men [HI-M] 2017-2021 9

appendices

Appendix 1:KeyNMHPAPmilestonesinthecontextoftheHealthyIrelandpolicyframework 15

Appendix 2: Potentialcross-sectoralimpactofHI-M2017-2021 16

Appendix 3:Impetusandbackgroundtopolicydevelopment 19

Appendix 4:NationalMen’sHealthPolicyReview 21

Appendix 5:Therationaleformaintainingaspecificfocusonmen’shealth 25

Appendix 6:Nationalandinternationalpublicationsandpresentations 29

Appendix 7:MembershipoftheNationalMen’sHealthPolicyImplementationGroup 41

Appendix 8:ExistingpolicythatwillbesupportedbyactionsfromHI-M2017-2021 43

i8

Foreword

IrelandwasthefirstcountryintheworldtoadoptaNationalMen’sHealthPolicy,andothercountries

are now building upon the pioneering spirit and practical learning from the Irish experience. The

publicationofthisActionPlanforMen’sHealth[HealthyIreland-Men2017-2021(HI-M2017-2021)]is

asignificantandimportantstepincontinuingthemomentumandprogressthathasbeenachievedin

theareaofmen’shealthpolicyinIrelandinrecentyears.

There remains an urgent need to maintain a specific focus onmen’s health. This is grounded in

continuedsexdifferencesinlifeexpectancyandmortality,healthinequalitiesbetweendifferentsub-

populationsofmen,asubstantialbodyofevidencesupportingagender-specificapproachtoengage

moreeffectivelywithmen,andtheimperativetobuildonprogressachievedtodate.Underpinningthis

progresshasbeenanexplicitfocusongender-specificstrategiesrelatedtocommunityengagement,

capacitybuilding,partnershipandsustainability.

Inresponseto thekeyrecommendationsofan independentReviewof thepreviousNationalMen’s

HealthPolicyandActionPlan[NMHPAP2008-2013],HI-M2017-2021adoptsafocusedandstrategic

approach to addressmany of the key health topics and themes under the Framework of Actions

highlightedinHealthyIrelandandtheHSEpriorityareas.

ThesametheoreticalandphilosophicalprinciplesthatunderpinnedtheNMHPAP2008-2013continue

to provide a basis from which to advance men’s health in the context of HI-M 2017-2021. Since

publicationoftheNMHPAP2008-2013,therehasbeenabreadthofevidencesupportingandinforming

theneedforagender-specificapproachacrossadiverserangeoftopics,settingsandtargetmale

populationgroups.Thisevidence,alongwithongoingmen’shealthwork,providesaplatform from

whichtoprogressandbuildmomentumintheyearsahead.

HI-M2017-2021isrelevanttoawideaudience-policymakers,serviceproviders,healthandallied

healthprofessionals,andtothosewhoworkwithmeninthecommunityandvoluntarysectors-and

setsout anewvisionand roadmap formen’shealth that canplayapivotal role in supporting the

implementationofHealthyIreland.

dr. Cate HartiganHead of Health Promotion and improvementHealthandWellbeingDivision,HealthServiceExecutive

iiiVI

AbbreviationsCHBR CentreforHealthBehaviourResearch(inWaterfordInstituteofTechnology)DAFM DepartmentofAgriculture,FoodandtheMarineDoES DepartmentofEducationandSkillsDoH DepartmentofHealthDoJEI DepartmentofJobs,EnterpriseandInnovationDoSP DepartmentofSocialProtectionE.G. ExempliGratia(forexample)FCSE FamilyCommunicationandSelf-EsteemFsP Farm safety PartnershipGAA GaelicAthleticAssociationGM GenderMainstreamingGP GeneralPractitionerHBSC HealthBehavioursinSchool-agedChildrenHi Healthy irelandHI-M HealthyIreland-MenHSA HealthandSafetyAuthorityHSE HealthServiceExecutiveICGP IrishCollegeofGeneralPractitionersics irish cancer societyIHF IrishHeartFoundationiMsa irish Men’s sheds association IPH InstituteofPublicHealthITC InstituteofTechnologyCarlowLGBT Lesbian,Gay,BisexualandTransgenderlsP local sports PartnershipMDN Men’sDevelopmentNetworkMHFI Men’sHealthForuminIrelandMHW Men’sHealthWeekMoM Men on the MoveNCMH NationalCentreforMen’sHealth(intheInstituteofTechnologyCarlow)NMHP National Men’s Health PolicyNMHPaP National Men’s Health Policy and action Plan NMHPIG NationalMen’sHealthPolicyImplementationGroupNOSP NationalOfficeforSuicidePreventionNYCI NationalYouthCouncilofIrelandPa Physical activityPE PhysicalEducationSEG Socio-EconomicGroupsi sport irelandSPHE Social,PersonalandHealthEducationWIT WaterfordInstituteofTechnology

VIII 1

ExecutiveSummary

IrelandbecamethefirstcountryintheworldtopublishaNationalMen’sHealthPolicy[NMHP]in2009

andhasbeen to the forefront, internationally, inadvancingmen’shealthat a research,policyand

advocacylevel.Underpinningitsapproachtomen’shealthpolicydevelopmentandimplementation

hasbeenanexplicitfocusongender-specificstrategiesrelatedtocommunityengagement,capacity

building, partnership and sustainability. Much of the work to date has revolved around excellent

partnershipsbetweenthestatutory,community/voluntaryandacademicsectors,resultinginastrong

evidencebase.Althoughostensiblyamen’s ‘health’policy, thePolicyhashadanexplicit focuson

mainstreamingmen’shealthacrossabroadspectrumofpolicyareas(withinandoutsideofhealth)and

contributingtomoreeffectiveimplementationofotherpolicyareas.

Thereremainsastrongrationaleformaintainingaspecificfocusonmen’shealth.Thisisgroundedin:

continuedsexdifferencesinlifeexpectancyandmortality;healthinequalitiesbetweendifferentsub-

populationsofmen;asubstantialbodyofevidencesupportingagender-specificapproach;andthe

imperativetobuildonthemomentumandkeymilestonesachievedinmen’shealthoverthepastten

years.TheNewPublicSectorEqualityandHumanRightsDutyprovidesamandateformaintaininga

policyfocusonmenaffectedbymarginalisation(e.g.Travellermen,ethnicminoritymenandgaymen).

InJune2014,theDepartmentofHealth[DoH]andtheHealthServiceExecutive[HSE]commissioned

aReviewofthePolicy,withaviewtoinformingthefuturedirectionofmen’shealthpolicyinIreland

alignedtothekeythemesofHealthyIreland[HI].TheReviewconcludedthat,overall,thePolicyhad

madeasignificantcontributiontoadvancingmen’shealthinIrelandandpaidtributetothesignificant

progress thathadbeenachieved in: (i)promotingan increased focusonmen’shealth research in

Ireland;(ii)developinghealthpromotioninitiativesthatsupportmentoadoptpositivehealthbehaviours

and to increasecontrolover their lives; (iii)buildingsocialcapitalwithincommunities formen;and

(iv) the development and delivery ofmen’s health training for health and other professionals. The

Reviewalsopaidtributetothesignificantprogressthathadbeenachievedindevelopingsustainable

alliancesandpartnershipsintheareaofmen’shealthinvolvingstatutory,communityandvoluntary,

andacademicsectors.Notwithstandingwhat it sawas theambitiousscopeandbreadthofpolicy

recommendations, theReview recommended that there shouldbe a continueddedicated national

focusonmen’shealthinIrelandtoensurethatthemomentumandtractionthathasbeenachieved

todateisnotlost.TheReviewalsorecommendedthedevelopmentofarevisedandmorefocused

ActionPlan formen’shealth thatshouldmakeexplicit links tootherhealthpolicyareasandclearly

demonstratehowaddressingmen’shealthwillsupporttheeffectiveimplementationofHealthyIreland.

ThesametheoreticalandphilosophicalprinciplesthatunderpinnedthepreviousActionPlancontinue

to provide a basis from which to maintain this ongoing agreed approach to men’s health policy

implementationandfromwhichtoadvancemen’shealthinthefuture.TherevisedMen’sHealthAction

2 3

Part1:Preamble

Ireland’s pioneering role in men’s health policy development Irelandhasbeentotheforefrontinternationallyinadvancingmen’shealthataresearch,policyand

advocacy level1.AsthefirstcountryintheworldtodevelopaNationalMen’sHealthPolicyandAction

Plan[NMHPAP2008-2013]2 Ireland’spioneeringrole inmen’shealthpolicydevelopmenthasbeen

describedby theBritishMedical Journal as ‘a particular source of inspiration for other countries3.

Through its implementation todate, anumberof significantmilestoneshavebeenachieved in the

contextoftheHealthyIrelandPolicyFramework(seeAppendix1).Crucially,Ireland’sNMHPAP2008-

2013hasalsoprovidedavisionandaframeworkforactionthatenabledthefieldofmen’shealthto

develop insynergywithotherpolicyareaswithinandbeyondthehealthsector4.Underpinning this

approachhasbeenanexplicitfocusongender-specificstrategiesrelatedtocommunityengagement,

capacity building, partnership and sustainability. Much of the work to date has revolved around

excellentpartnershipsbetweenthestatutory,community/voluntaryandacademicsectors,resultingin

astrongevidencebase.HavingaNMHPAPhasalsoresultedinmen’shealthbeingmorevisibleand

occupyingamoreprominentplaceinpublicdiscourse4.

Thepositioningofmen’shealthinsuchbroadtermswithinNMHPAP2008-2013,wasaclearstatement

ofthecross-sectoralandinter-departmentalresponsibilitiesassociatedwithpromotingmen’shealth,

butalsodrewattentiontothepotentialgainsandbenefitstoothersectorsandgovernmentdepartments

ofworkinginpartnershiptosupportmen’shealth(seeAppendix2).InthecontextoftheDepartment

ofJobs,EnterpriseandInnovation,forexample,aman’sinabilitytoliveafullandproductivelifeisa

considerableburdentotheeconomyintermsofassociatedhealthcarecostsandlossofworkplace

productivity.Increasingtheuptakeofparentalleavebyfathersiscrucialintermsofabroadergender-

relationsapproachtoequalityintheworkplace,andtochildcareanddomesticlabourwithinthehome

(DepartmentofJobs,EnterpriseandInnovation).TheDepartmentofEducationandSkillshasacritical

roletoplayinnurturingboys’self-esteemandcommunicationskillsfromanearlyage,toenablethem

asadultstohaveacquiredalanguageforexpressingemotionaldistressandtobemoreopenabout

seeking help, particularly for emotional problems. Notwithstanding the challenges associated with

inter-departmentalwork5,continuedeffortsareneededtopromotemen’shealthinthefuturethrough

synergieswithothergovernmentdepartments.Amoredetailedoverviewoftheimpetusandmandate

fordevelopingaNMHPAPisoutlinedinAppendix3.

1RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2009).Gettingmen’shealthontoapolicyagenda-chartingthedevelopmentofanationalmen’shealthpolicyinIreland.JournalofMen’sHealth:Vol6,No2;105-113.2DepartmentofHealthandChildren(2009).NationalMen’sHealthPolicy:WorkingwithmeninIrelandtoachieveoptimumhealthandwellbeing.HawkinsHouse,Dublin.3WhiteA.,McKeeM.,RichardsonN.,DeVisserR.,MadsenS.A.,deSousaB.,MakaraP.&ZatonskiW.(2011).Europe’smenneedtheirownhealthstrategy.BMJ343:d7397-11.4RichardsonN.(2013).BuildingMomentum,GainingTraction:Ireland’sNationalMen’sHealthPolicy-5YearsOn.NewMaleStudies2(3):93-103.5BakerP.(2015).ReviewoftheNationalMen’sHealthPolicyandActionPlan2008-2013:FinalreportfortheHealthServiceExecutive.Availableat:http://pbmenshealth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ireland-Mens-Health-Policy-Review.Final-Full-Report.2015.pdf

Plan[HealthyIreland-Men2017-2021:HI-M2017-2021]setsoutanewvisionandroadmapformen’s

healthintheyearsahead.ThePlanworksintandemwithexistingstructuresandprogrammeswithin

theHSEandisdesignedtocontributetomoreeffectiveimplementationofprogrammesandservices

bymainstreamingmen’shealthacrossabroadspectrumofpolicyareas.FourThemes(T)andtwenty-

eightActions(A)havebeenidentifiedunderHI-M2017-2021.TheseThemesandActionshavebeen

framedwithdueregardtothekeyhealthtopicsandthemesundertheFrameworkofActionshighlighted

inHealthyIrelandandtheHSEpriorityareas.

T1:EstablishappropriategovernancestructuresthatarealignedwithHealthyIrelandtooversee

the implementationofHI-M2017-2021.

T2:ContributetotheimplementationofthepriorityprogrammesforHealthyIreland-healthyeatingandactive living,wellbeingandmentalhealth,positiveageing,alcohol, tobacco free,andhealthychildhood-withaparticularemphasisonaddressinghealthinequalitiesbetweendifferentsub-populationsofmen.

T3:Buildcapacitywiththosewhoworkwithmenandboystoadoptagendercompetentandmen-friendlyapproachtoengagingmenandboysatbothanindividualandanorganisationallevel.

T4: Ensurethatresearchcontinuestounderpin thedevelopmentofmen’shealthpractice inIrelandandcontributestotheHealthyIrelandagenda.

4 5

National Men’s Health Policy ReviewTheDepartmentofHealth[DoH]andtheHealthServiceExecutive[HSE]commissionedaReviewin

June2014toconsidertheoverallimplementationoftheNMHPAP2008-2013andtoinformthefuture

directionofmen’shealthpolicyinIrelandalignedtothekeythemesofHealthyIreland.TheReview56

(seesummaryofReviewfindingsinAppendix4)concludedthat,overall,theNMHPAP2008-2013had

madeasignificantcontributiontoadvancingmen’shealthinIreland:

“… the NMHPAP has made a significant and important contribution to making the issue of men’s

health more prominent and providing a framework for action.”(Baker,2015,p65)

Inordertobuilduponthissuccessandmomentum,theReviewrecommendedthedevelopmentofa

revisedandmorefocusedActionPlanformen’shealththatshouldmakeexplicitlinkstootherhealth

policyareas,andshouldclearlydemonstratehowaddressingmen’shealthwouldsupporttheeffective

implementationofHealthyIreland.

The rationale for maintaining a specific focus on men’s healthThereremainsapressingneedforacontinuedpolicyfocusonmen’shealth.Manyofthechallenges

identified for men in the NMHPAP 2008-2013 are still in evidence today. There continues to be

significantdifferencesinhealthoutcomes;notjustbetweenmenandwomen,butalsobetweendifferent

populationsofmen(seeAppendix5).Manymenhavestruggledtoadapttoandcopewithrapidsocietal

change,particularlywithmoredifficulttransitionsassociatedwitheconomicrecession.Althoughthe

rateofunemploymenthas,overall,beendecreasing76,highratesofunemploymentremainastarkreality

amongyoungmen87.Labourmarketvulnerabilityandlackofsecurityofjobtenure-particularlyamong

lowersocio-economicgroupsofmen-areincreasinglyassociatedwithsocialexclusionandadverse

healthoutcomes98.Forexample,ethnicminoritygroupsofmenareparticularlypronetolabourmarket

discrimination109.Accesstoaffordablehousinghasbecomeanissueforanincreasingpercentageofthe

population1110.Increasingdivorceratesandchangestofamilystructures1211poseparticularchallengesto

thosemenaffectedbysuchchange.Andyet,thereisincreasingevidenceofboys’andmen’scapacity

toadaptandcopewithchange.Forexample, theexponentialgrowth inMen’sSheds in Ireland is

indicativeofmoretypicallymarginalisedor isolatedmenbeingproactiveby joiningaShedtoseek

5BakerP.(2015).ReviewoftheNationalMen’sHealthPolicyandActionPlan2008-2013:FinalreportfortheHealthServiceExecutive.Availableat:http://pbmenshealth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ireland-Mens-Health-Policy-Review.Final-Full-Report.2015.pdf6Eurostathttp://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Unemployment_statistics7Eurostathttp://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Unemployment_statistics#Youth_unemployment_trends8TheInstituteofPublicHealthinIreland(2011).Facingthechallenge:Theimpactofrecessionandunemploymentonmen’shealthinIreland.www.publichealth.ie/document/facing-challenge-impact-recession-and-unemployment-mens-health-ireland9KingstonG.,McGinnityF.&O’ConnellP.J.(2013).DiscriminationintheIrishLabourMarket:Nationality,EthnicityandtheRecessionwww.ucd.ie/geary/static/publications/workingpapers/gearywp201323.pdf10NationalEconomicandSocial(2014).ReviewofIrishSocialandAffordableHousingProvision.PaperNo10http://files.nesc.ie/nesc_secretariat_papers/No_10_Review_of_Irish_Social_and_Affordable_Housing_Provision.pdf11CentralStatisticsOffice(2012).Profile5:HouseholdsandFamilieswww.cso.ie/en/census/census2011reports/census2011profile5householdsandfamilies-livingarrangementsinireland

solace, share skills, andwork towardsacommonpurpose1312. Therehasbeen increasingevidence

ofhighprofilemeninareassuchassportandentertainmentspeakingoutabouthealth issuesand

beingadvocatesforothermen.Thereisalsopromisingevidenceofseparated/divorcedfathersfinding

waystomaintainopenlinesofcommunicationwiththeirchildren.AccordingtothemostrecentHealth

BehavioursinSchool-agedChildren[HBSC]1413survey,between1998and2010,therewasastatistically

significantdecreaseinthepercentageof10-17yearoldboyswhoreportedcurrentlylivingwithboth

theirmotherandfather(91.6%in1998and73.7%in2010).Despitethis, therewas,overthesame

period,asignificant increaseinthepercentageofboyswhoreportedfindingit ‘easy’/’very easy’ to

talktotheirmother(70.9%-80.9%)andtotheirfather(54.3%-73.2%).Nevertheless,theseongoing

challengesfacedbymenareatimelyreminderoftheneedtomaintainapolicyspotlightonmenandto

recognisethesubstantivedifferencesinhealthneedsbetweendifferentcategoriesofmen.Indeed,the

NewPublicSectorEqualityandHumanRightsDuty1514 provides an important mandate for maintaining a

policyfocusonmenaffectedbymarginalisation(e.g.Travellermen,ethnicminoritymenorgaymen).

Evidence supporting gender-specific or ‘men-friendly’ approachesInthedesignanddeliveryofservicesandprogrammes,itiscruciallyimportanttoconsiderhowmen

activelyconstructbeliefs,attitudesandbehavioursthatcanimpactuponmanydifferentaspectsoftheir

health.SincepublicationoftheNMHPAP2008-2013,therehasbeenabreadthofevidencesupporting

andinformingtheneedforagender-specificapproachacrossadiverserangeoftopics,settingsand

targetmalepopulationgroups.Examplesofthisincludethepublicationofsignificantnationalresearch

reportsontopicssuchascancer1615andsuicidepreventioninyoungmen1716,1817;therolloutandevaluation

ofENGAGE1918 and other national men’s health training programmes2019,2120,;thedevelopmentoftoolkitsand

bestpracticeguidelinesonhowtoeffectivelyengagemen2221,2322;thedevelopmentanddisseminationof

healthinformationbookletstargetedatdifferentpopulationgroupsofmen2423,2524,2625;andthedevelopment

andco-ordinationofabroadrangeofhealthawarenessraisinginitiativesinconjunctionwithNational

Men’sHealthWeek2726 (SeeAppendix6 for a complete list of researchoutputs sincepublicationof

12WilsonN.J.&CordierR.(2013).AnarrativereviewofMen’sShedsliterature:reducingsocialisolationandpromotingmen’shealthandwellbeing.SocialCareintheCommunity21(5):451-463.13KellyC.,GavinA.,MolchoM.&NicGabhainnS.(2012).TheIrishHealthBehavioursinSchool-agedChildren(HBSC)study2010.Dublin:DepartmentofHealth.14EqualityandRightsAlliance(2015).NewPublicSectorEqualityandHumanRightsDuty:www.eracampaign.org/uploads/A%20New%20Public%20Sector%20Duty%20March%202015.pdf15ClarkeN.,SharpL.,O’LearyE.&RichardsonN.(2013).Anexaminationoftheexcessburdenofcancerinmen.InstituteofTechnologyCarlow.16RichardsonN.,ClarkeN.&FowlerC.(2013).YoungMenandSuicideProject.AreportfromtheMen’sHealthForuminIreland.17GraceB.,RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2014).EngagingYoungMen:AreportcommissionedbytheNationalOfficeforSuicidePrevention.InstituteofTechnologyCarlow.18RichardsonN.,BrennanL.,CarrollP.&LambeB.(2013).‘Engage’:NationalMen’sHealthTrainingProgrammeandResourcePack.Men’sHealthForuminIreland.19FowlerC.,RichardsonN.,BrennanL.,MurrayF.&CarrollP.(2015).‘ConnectingwithYoungMen’:EngagingYoungMenNationalTrainingProgrammeandResourcePack.Men’sHealthForuminIreland.20Men’sDevelopmentNetwork(2013).7KeyQuestionsTraining.21LefkowichM.,RichardsonN.&RobertsonS.(2015).Engagingmenaspartnersandparticipants:guidingprinciples,strategies,andperspectivesforcommunityinitiativesandholisticpartnerships.InstituteofTechnologyCarlow.22McCarthyM.&RichardsonN.(2011).Bestpracticeapproachestotailoringlifestyleinterventionsforobesemenintheprimarycaresetting:Aresourcebookletforhealthcareprofessionalsworkingwithobesemenintheprimarycaresetting.CentreforMen’sHealth,ITCarlow.23RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2013)Stayingfitforfarming(ahealthbookletforfarmers).24AnPost(2011).MaleMinder(ahealthbookletforAnPoststaff).25CarrollP.(2011).‘Men’sHealthMatters’:Apracticalguidetohealthcareformen.CarlowCountyCouncil.26See:www.mhfi.org/mhw/about-mhw.html

6 7

theNMHPAP2008-2013).These,togetherwithanumberofongoingdevelopmentsinmen’shealth,

provideanimportantblueprintforevidence-basedandgender-sensitivepracticeinthefuture.Thefield

ofmen’shealthinIrelandis,therefore,stronglypositionedtosupporttheimplementationofkeyActions

inHealthyIrelandbyreachingmenthroughthisevidence-basedandgender-sensitivepractice.

Building on the momentum and key milestones achieved to dateAsthefirstcountryintheworldtopublishaNationalMen’sHealthPolicy[NMHP],Irelandhasledthe

way in theareaofmen’shealthandhasachievedsignificantmilestones todate.There isastrong

rationaleforretainingapolicyfocusonmen’shealth.Considerablemomentumhasbeengenerated;

particularlythroughthedevelopmentofevidence-basedandgender-sensitivepractice,strongworking

partnerships,andcapacitybuildingatcommunitylevel.ThecontinuationofaNMHPcanonlyserveto

buildonthismomentum:

‘The publication of NMHPs in Ireland and Australia represent a significant landmark in the

ongoing evolution of the field of men’s health. The policies provide a clear blueprint and an

unequivocal evidence base for tackling men’s health in each country… It can be concluded from

an Irish and Australian perspective, that having a NMHPAP advances the case for men’s health

in three important ways: (i) it provides a vision, identity and branding for men’s health within

the wider health policy framework; (ii) it provides a framework for action on men’s health and

points towards a more systematic approach to tackling key priorities identified for men’s health

in each country; and (iii) it provides an important resource for practitioners, policy makers and

advocates who wish to further advance men’s health work.’ 28(RichardsonandSmith,2011,p43127)

InordertobuilduponthesuccessandmomentumgainedthroughimplementationoftheNMHPAP2008-

2013,thisfollow-upNationalMen’sHealthActionPlan2017-2021hasbeendevelopedwithanexplicit

focusonsupportingtheimplementationofHealthyIreland[HI]andwill,hereafter,bereferredtoas

HI-M2017-2021.WhileitisincumbentontheHI-M2017-2021tosupporthealthbehaviourchangeand

topromotehealth-affirmingchangestomen’sattitudesandapproachtotheirhealth,itisfundamentally

importanttocontinuetocreatesupportiveenvironments, topromotegender-competentservices,to

expandpartnershipsandinter-sectoralengagement,andtostrengthencommunityactiontosupport

men’shealth.ThesametheoreticalandphilosophicalprinciplesthatunderpinnedthepreviousAction

Plancontinuetoprovideabasisfromwhichtomaintainthisagreedapproachtomen’shealthpolicy

implementationandfromwhichtoadvancemen’shealthinthefuture.

This Preamble (Part 1) has contextualised the impetus and background to men’s health policy

development in Ireland, thekeyfindingsfromtheNMHPAP2008-2013review,andtherationalefor

maintainingapolicyfocusonmen’shealth.Part2setsoutanewvisionandroadmapformen’shealth

27RichardsonN.&SmithJ.(2011).Nationalmen’shealthpoliciesinIrelandandAustralia:whatarethechallengesassociatedwithtransitioningfromdevelopmenttoimplementation.PublicHealth125(7):424-432.

intheyearsaheadintheformofHI-M2017-2021.Itrespondstotheclearrecommendationfromthe

NMHPAP 2008-2013Review for amore focusedAction Planwhich is aligned to the key thematic

areasofHealthyIreland.ThePlanworksintandemwithexistingstructuresandprogrammeswithinthe

HSE,andisdesignedtocontributetomoreeffectiveimplementationofprogrammesandservicesby

mainstreamingmen’shealthacrossabroadspectrumofpolicyareas.HI-M2017-2021comprisesfour

thematicareasandkeyactionsthatlinktoexistingpolicyareaswithinandbeyondthehealthsector.

ThecompositionofthegrouptaskedwiththedevelopmentofHI-M2017-2021isoutlinedinAppendix7.

9

Part2:NationalMen’sHealthActionPlanHealthyIreland-Men[HI-M]2017-2021

WithdueregardtotheHealthyIrelandPolicyFramework,thefourthemes(T)identifiedforactionunder

theHI-M2017-2021areasfollows:

T1: EstablishappropriategovernancestructuresthatarealignedwithHealthyIrelandto

overseetheimplementationofHI-M2017-2021.

T2: ContributetotheimplementationofthepriorityprogrammesforHealthyIreland-

healthyeatingandactiveliving,wellbeingandmentalhealth,positiveageing,

alcohol,tobaccofree,andhealthychildhood-withaparticularemphasison

addressinghealthinequalitiesbetweendifferentsub-populationsofmen.

T3: Buildcapacitywiththosewhoworkwithmenandboystoadoptagendercompetent

andmen-friendlyapproachtoengagingmenandboysatbothanindividualandan

organisationallevel.

T4: Ensurethatresearchcontinuestounderpinthedevelopmentofmen’shealthpractice

inIrelandandcontributestotheHealthyIrelandagenda.

TheseThemeshavebeen framedwithdue regard to the key health topics and themesunder the

FrameworkofActionshighlightedinHealthyIrelandandtheHSEpriorityareas.HI-M2017-2021will

continuetobuilduponthekeyNMHPAP2008-2013outputsachievedtodate(seeAppendix1).There

will alsocontinue tobeanexplicit focusongender-specificandmen-friendly strategies related to

communityengagement,capacitybuilding,partnershipandsustainability.

In keepingwith a key recommendation from theNMHPAP2008-2013Review, therewill also be a

specificfocusondove-tailingwithotherhealthpolicyareas.Figure1providesanoverviewofthelinks

betweenHealthy IrelandandHI-Mand the specificpointsof intersectionbetweenHI-Mandother

governmentdepartments,andbetweenHI-MandpriorityareasidentifiedwithinHealthyIreland.Men’s

health,therefore,willcontinuetobedefinedinsuchtermsas:nurturingpositivemasculinitiesamong

boys[DepartmentofEducationandSkills-DoES];promotingsafeandhealth-promotingworkpractices

amongfarmers[DepartmentofAgriculture,FoodandtheMarine-DAFM];usingtheworkplaceasa

settinginwhichtopromotemen’shealthandoptimalwork-lifebalanceformen[DepartmentofJobs,

EnterpriseandInnovation-DoJEI];andtacklingisolationanddisconnectionamongmoremarginalised

andlowerSocio-EconomicGroup(SEG)men[DepartmentofSocialProtection-DoSP].Thespecific

pointsofintersectionandoverlapbetweenHI-M2017-2021andexistingpolicyareoutlinedinAppendix

8.ThisisacriticallyimportantandcoreelementofHI-M-themainstreamingofmen’shealthacrossa

broadspectrumofpolicyareasandthecapacityofmen’shealthpolicytocontributetomoreeffective

implementationofotherpolicyareas.ItshouldbeacknowledgedthatHI-M2017-2021willcontinueto

10 11

provideagenderlenstoinformongoingandnewhealthandsocialpolicydevelopment,tocontribute

totheeffectivenessofnewpolicydevelopment,andtoensurethat thehealthneedsofmenwillbe

optimallymet.

Figure 1:HI-Masavehicleformainstreamingmen’shealthacrossabroadpolicyspectrum

t1 establish appropriate governance structures that are aligned with Healthy Ireland to oversee the implementation of HI-M 2017-2021

‘Governance andPolicy’ and ‘Monitoring,Reporting andEvaluation’ are among the key themes of

Healthy Ireland’s Framework of Actions. Building upon the successful governance structures that

underpinnedtheimplementationoftheNMHPAP2008-2013(seeAppendix1),andtakingaccountof

thecross-sectoralapproachofHI-M2017-2021,itisproposedtobroadenandextendthecomposition

of the existing National Men’s Health Policy Implementation Group. In keeping with current HSE

governancestructuresrelatedtotheImplementationPlanforHI,itisproposedtochangethestatusof

thisgrouptoaMen’sHealthActionPlanAdvisoryGroup.ThefollowingActionsareproposedinrelation

togovernancestructuresforHI-M2017-2021:

action lead agent Partners

1.1 DevelopanAnnualMen’sHealthBusinessPlanthat aligns to the Hse’s implementation Plan for Hi

Hse DoH,IPH,ICS,IHF,MHFI,MDN,NCMH,IMSA,NosP

1.2 appoint a National Men’s Health action PlanAdvisoryGroupthatincludesabroadrepresentationofstakeholdersalignedtotheprioritiesofHI,toadviseontheimplementationofHI-M2017-2021

Hse DoH,IPH,ICS,IHF,MHFI,MDN,NCMH,IMSA,NosP

1.3 appoint a men’s health representative on all priority programme committees in the Hse to ensuretheintegrationofmen’shealthpolicyonthese programmes

Hse IPH,ICS,IHF,MHFI,MDN,NCMH

1.4 ProduceanAnnualReportthatdocumentstheprogressoftheHI-M2017-2021implementationforsubmissiontotheDoHandtheHSEandtobepostedontheDoHwebsite

Hse DoH,NCMH

1.5 ProduceanAnnualMen’sHealthCommunicationsPlanthatdocumentsandprofileskeyactivitiesandoutputsinmen’shealth

Hse IPH,ICS,IHF,MHFI,MDN,NCMH,IMSA

1.6 HostaNationalMen’sHealthWebsitethatprovidesandmaintainsup-to-dateaccesstobothnationalandinternationalmen’shealthpublicationsandreports

MHFi NcMH

eXIStInG GOVernMent POlICIeS

HealtHy Ireland

HealtHy Ireland

HealtHy Ireland

eXIStInG GOVernMent

POlI

CIeS

Healthy Ireland - Men

Wellbeing and Mental Health

Healthy Childhood

alcohol

Positive ageing tobacco

Free

Healthy eating and

active living

12 13

t2 Contribute to the implementation of the priority programmes for Healthy Ireland - healthy eating and active living, wellbeing and mental health, positive ageing, alcohol, tobacco free, and healthy childhood - with a particular emphasis on reducing health inequalities between different sub-populations of men

AmongthekeygoalsofHealthyIreland’sOutcomesFrameworkare:‘increase the proportion of people

who are healthy at all stages of life’ and ‘reduce health inequalities’.TheActionsdefinedunderTheme2

aredesignedtoaddresskeylifestyleissues(physicalactivity,diet,alcoholconsumptionandsmoking)

andtopromotepositivementalhealthandwellbeing,byadoptingalifecourseapproachandhaving

aparticularfocusonthosesub-populationsofmenmostinneed:


2.1 ImplementandevaluateMenontheMovetoincreasethe proportion of men who are physically active and to improvetheiroverallbiopsychosocialhealth

cHBR HSE,NCMH,Localsports Partnership Network,MDN,SI

2.2 SupportIMSAwiththeimplementationoftheQualityAssessmentandOutcomesFrameworkforMen’ssheds in ireland

iMsa HSE,NCMH

2.3 SupporttheGAAwiththeimplementationandongoingevaluationoftheHealthyClubsInitiative

GAA HSE,NCMH

2.4 Supporttheimplementationofthe‘ConnectingforLife’ImplementationPlanbydevelopingandimplementingnewinitiatives(e.g.withmiddle-agedmen)thatpromote positive mental health and resilience among at riskgroupsofmen

NOSP/HSE NCMH,MDN,MHFI

2.5 SupporttheHSE’sPlanforWellbeingandMentalHealthbycontinuingtoimplementandexpandexistinginitiatives(e.g.EngagingYoungMen,MojoProject,7KeyQuestions)topromotepositivementalhealthandresilienceamongatriskgroupsofmen

NOSP/HSE NCMH,MDN,MHFI

2.6 DevelopandimplementnewinitiativestargetedatengagingTravellermen,withaparticularfocusonmentalhealthandresiliencebuilding

Hse NOSP,MDN

2.7 SupporttheimplementationoftheMenandCancerReportrecommendationswithaparticularfocusoncancerandhealthliteracy(focusingonthecancerinformationneedsofmenover40yearsofageandfromlowersocio-economicgroups)

ICS/HSE NcMH

2.8 ImplementtheFarmersHaveHeartsevaluationrecommendationsinthefutureroll-outofcardiovascularriskscreeningtargetedatmen

IHF/HSE NcMH

2.9 SupportthosetaskedwithimplementingtheNationalSexualHealthStrategyandSPHEinschools,withaparticularfocusonpromotingincreasedself-awarenessandemotionalintelligenceamongboysandyoungmen

HSE/DoES MDN,CHBR

2.10 Contributetothedevelopmentofthe‘HealthyWorkplaceFramework’andsupporttheimplementationofworkplacehealthpromotioninitiativeswithaparticularfocusonmen

HSE/DoH NcMH

t3 Build capacity with those who work with men and boys to adopt a gender competent approach to engaging men and boys at both an individual and an organisational level

HealthyIrelandcallsformoreeffectivewaystoempowerpeopleandcommunitiestoimproveandtake

responsibility for theirownhealth.Menareoftendeemedtobe ‘the problem’,or ‘hard to reach’ by

serviceprovidersand,asaresult,manymenmaybereticenttoaccesshealthservices.Historically,

menhavenotcommonlymobilisedaroundhealthissues(inthesamewaythatothergroupshave),often

makingitchallengingformentoarticulatetheirhealthneeds.Thus,betterapproachestomeaningfully

addressing men’s health are increasingly being called for that support practitioners to effectively

engagewithmenandthatpromotemen’sgreateruseofservices.


3.1 DeliverENGAGEtraining-viatheENGAGETrainers’network-tofrontlineserviceproviders(includingtheup-skillingofTrainerstodeliverUnits1-5asstand-aloneUnits)

MDN HSE,NCMH,MHFI

3.2 ExpandthenumberofENGAGEUnit6TrainersandcontinuetosupportexistingTrainerstodelivertheprogramme to frontline service providers

MHFi HSE,MDN,NCMH

3.3 Delivertrainingtofrontlineserviceproviderswithinthecommunityandvoluntarysectorstoengagemoreeffectivelywithmarginalisedgroupsofmen

MDN MHFi

3.4 SupporttheHSE’splanfortacklinghealthinequalitiesbyprioritisingthosesub-populationsofmenmostinneedthroughtheimplementationofHI-M2017-2021

Hse MDN

3.5 SupporttheimplementationoftheNationalGenderMainstreaming(GM)Framework

Hse MDN,MHFI,NCMH

3.6 Co-ordinateMen’sHealthWeek(MHW)annuallyandexpandtheMHWpartnershipnetworkestablishedtodate

MHFi HSE,MDN

3.7 ContributetotheimplementationofGoal6oftheNationalFarmSafetyPartnershipActionPlan(2016-2018)topromoteimprovedhealthandwellbeingamongthefarmingcommunity

NcMH Hse

3.8 Developatrainingprogrammetosupportthoseintheyouthsectortofacilitatethedevelopmentofself-awarenessandemotionalintelligenceamongyoungmen

NYCI/CHBR MHFi

14 15

T4 Ensure that research continues to underpin the development of men’s health practice in Ireland and contributes to the HI agenda

AmongthekeythemesidentifiedintheHealthyIrelandFrameworkare‘research and evidence’ and the

need for ‘robust evidence to continually inform practice’.TheNMHPAP2008-2013Reviewhighlighted

research,andtheknowledgetransferofresearchintopractice,asakeysuccess(seeAppendix4).It

isimperativethatresearchandevaluationcontinuetounderpinmen’shealthwork.


4.1 ProvideresearchsupporttopriorityprogrammesintheHSEtoensurethatallmen’shealthworkcontinuestobeunderpinnedbyempirical evidence

NCMH/CHBR Hse

4.2 Supportpractitionerswiththeevaluationofmen’shealthprojectsandprogrammesinaccordancewithbestpractice

Hse NcMH

4.3 Ensurethatknowledgetransferviatraining,trainingmaterialsandresources,toolkits,presentations,reportsandacademicpapers,informsfuturepracticeintheareaofmen’shealth

Hse NcMH

4.4 Expandpost-graduateresearchinmen’shealthtodevelopevidenceunderpinningbestpracticeandtocontributetotheknowledgebaseinthisfield

Hse NCMH,CHBR,Wider 3rd level sector

appendix 1Key nMHPaP 2008-2013 milestones in the context of the Healthy Ireland policy framework

HI theme Key nMHPaP Milestones

1. Governance i. NationalImplementationSteeringGroupinplace(co-chairedbytheHSE andtheDepartmentofHealth)withmeetingsquarterlyii. ExplicitlinkstoGenderMainstreamingFrameworkiii. Annualprogressreportscompleted2009-2013iv. Explicitfocusonevaluationwithregardtomen’shealthprogrammesv. Externalreviewpublished

2. Partnerships andcross-sectoralwork

i. Keyimplementationstakeholders:HSE,MDN,MHFI,NCMH,CHBRii. Keyalliancesandpartnershipsestablished: NOSP,IrishCancerSociety,IrishHeartFoundation,InstituteofPublicHealth,GAAiii. Men’shealthembeddedinarangeofcross-sectoralwork: suicideprevention,GAAHealthyClubProject,NationalFarmSafetyPartnership, gendermainstreaming,obesity,physicalactivity,SPHE(schools), workplace,communitysectoriv. Internationalleaderwithstronginternationallinks

3. empowering people and communities

i. Men’sHealthWeek,co-ordinatedandevaluatedbyMHFI,isnowfirmly establishedasanannualandprominenteventandadoptsacross-sectoral, all-islandapproachii. Men’shealthisembeddedinanumberofworkplacesettings.Examples include:Safefood(‘TruckDrivers’),HSE/IHF(‘FarmersHaveHearts’), AnPost(‘MaleMinder’)iii. Stronglinkstocommunitysector: •Men’sDevelopmentNetworkadoptsaleadroleatnationalleveland hasdevelopedarangeofresources •Men’sSheds-over300shedsnowestablished;QualityAssuranceand OutcomesFrameworkbeingdevelopedforSheds •LarkinCentre’sMen’sHealthandWellbeingProgramme-Toolkit published2015 •MenontheMovephysicalactivityprogramme-runinpartnershipwith 8countysportspartnerships •CarlowMen’sHealthProject-arangeofresourcespublished

4. Health and health reform

Men’shealthtraining:i. ENGAGE(NationalMen’sHealthTrainingProgramme)developedanddelivered toarangeofhealthprofessionals(GPs,Nurses,communityworkersetc.); trainingresourcepackcompleted;threeTraintheTrainerprogrammes delivered[n=57TrainersthroughoutIreland];62trainingdaysdeliveredby Trainersto810serviceproviders;processandoutcomeevaluationreports completedii. ConnectingwithYoungMen(nationaltrainingprogrammefocusedonyoung menandmentalhealth)developed;trainingresourcepackcompleted; TraintheTrainerprogrammedeliveredto17Trainers;roll-outoftrainingfrom Autumn2015;processandoutcomeevaluationreportscompletediii. 7KeyQuestions(nationaltrainingprogrammetargetingcommunitysector) ongoingdeliverybyMDN;trainingresourcepackcompleted

5. Research and evidence

Men’shealthworkunderpinnedbyastrongevidencebase:i. Arangeofsignificantmen’shealthreportspublishedii. NCMHacontributingcentretothefirstStateofMen’sHealthinEuropereportiii. Arangeofpeer-reviewedandnon-peerreviewedpublicationspublishediv. Extensivenumberofconferencepresentationsgiven

6. Monitoring,reporting and evaluation

i. NMHPrelatedfundingconditionalonmonitoringandtrackingoutputsandkey deliverablesii. Focusontranslatingresearchintopractice-anumberofeffective practiceguidelinesandtoolkitshavebeendevelopediii. Arangeofevaluationreportsproduced

16 17

department of agriculturearea: FarmSafety-Farmers’Health

Partners:TeagascandtheHealthandSafetyAuthority

HI-M 2017-2021

dePartMent OF aGrICulture

dePartMent OF JOBS,

enterPrISe & InnOVatIOn

dePartMent OF SOCIal

PrOteCtIOn

dePartMent OF eduCatIOn and SKIllS

department of Jobs, enterprise & Innovationarea: Jobs,WorkplaceandSkills-WorkplaceHealthand safety

Partners:HealthandSafetyAuthorityandHealthPromotionandImprovement,WellbeingDivision,HSE

department of Social Protectionall areas: JobSeekers,Employersand

Employment,ChildrenandFamilies,Carers,DisabilityandIllness,RetiredandOlderPeople,Bereavement,othersupports,

SupplementaryWelfareAllowance,movingtoandfromIreland,RedundancyandInsolvency

Partner:HealthPromotionandImprovement,WellbeingDivision,HSE

department of education and Skillsarea: NationalCouncilforCurriculumandAssessment,EducationalServicesforTeachers

Partner: HealthPromotionandImprovement,WellbeingDivision,HSE

Figure 2:Overviewofthepotentialcross-sectoralimpactofHI-M2017-2021

Appendix2Potential cross-sectoral impact of HI-M 2017-2021

Farm Safety is identified within the Department of Agriculture as one of the core functions under

theCustomerServicestrategicarea.Farmers’health isacoreelementof theNationalFarmSafety

Partnership’sFarmSafetyActionPlan.TeagascandtheHealthandSafetyAuthority[HSA]playakey

roleintheimplementationofthisPlan.Inlightofrecentfindingsregardingthehealthoffarmers 28,HI-M

2017-2021cansupporttheworkoftheFarmSafetyPartnership(alongwithotherpartnerssuchasthe

IrishHeartFoundation)tocontinuetoworktogethertoimprovethehealthoffarmersinIreland.

WithintheDepartmentofJobs,Enterprise&Innovation[DoJEI],‘WorkplaceHealthandSafety’isan

areaforactionunderthestrategicarea‘Jobs,WorkplaceandSkills’.TheHealthandSafetyAuthority

isresponsiblefortheadministrationofworkplacehealthandsafetyadministrationlawinIrelandand,

assuch,isakeypartnerinthepromotionofmen’shealthintheworkplace.HI-M2017-2021canplaya

keyroleinsupportingtheHSAandmorebroadlytheDoJEIinachievingitsobjectiveswithrespectto

improvingtheworkingenvironmenttopromotethehealthandwellbeingofmen.Inaddition,giventhe

significanceofemploymenttoaman’shealth,theroleoftheDoJEIintheareaofeducationandskills

developmenttoensuretheprofessionaldevelopmentand,therefore,employabilityofmeniscriticalto

thehealthandwellbeingofmeninIreland.HI-M2017-2021cansupporttheDoJEItoengagemenfor

thispurposeandtoensurethatthedeliveryofsucheducationandtrainingisgendersensitive.Finally,

theNMHPAP2008-2013identifiedtheworkplaceasakeysettinginwhichtopromotemen’shealth,

andthisremainsapriorityforHI-M2017-2021.

Incomeandsocialcapitalarekeydeterminantsofhealth.Throughthenumerousbenefitschemesand

backtoeducationandtraining initiativesoffered(bothcommunityandeducationsettingbased)by

theDepartmentofSocialProtection[DoSP],manymenaresupportedtoreturntoeducation,training

and/oremployment,tocontributetotheircommunities,andtofinanciallysupportthemselvesandtheir

families.Allofthesemechanismsdirectlyandindirectlypositivelyimpactuponthehealthandlivesof

meninIreland.HI-M2017-2021cansupporttheeffortsoftheDoSPtoengagethosemenmostinneed

oftheinitiativesoffered.Inparticular,HI-M2017-2021cancontinuetotrainthoseworkingwithmenin

communitiesandinfrontlineservicestoensurethatservicesandtraining/educationofferedaregender

sensitive.

Thehealthofmen is strongly influencedbybehaviours inboyhood.Therehavebeencalls froma

varietyofsectorsforearlyyearsinterventionsthatsupportthedevelopmentofpositivehealthpractices

and,inparticular,thedevelopmentofpositivemasculinitiesandemotional intelligenceamongboys

andyoungmen.TheDepartmentofEducationandSkills[DoES]hasacrucialroletoplayinthisregard.

Inparticular,teachersandthosewhoworkwithyoungmeninoutofschoolsettingsrequiresupportto

deliverSocial,PersonalandHealthEducation[SPHE]effectivelytoboysandyoungmen.Itiscrucially

28VanDoornD.,RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2015).FarmersHaveHeartsEvaluation:AreportcommissionedbytheIrishHeartFoundation.InstituteofTechnologyCarlow.

18 19

appendix 3Impetus and background to policy development

TheimpetusfordevelopingtheNMHPAP2008-2013wasrootedinconcernsaboutdisparitiesinhealth

outcomesbetweenmenandwomenandbetweendifferentpopulationsofmen,anincreasedawareness

oftheneedforamoregender-specificapproachtohealthpolicy,aswellasanexpandinggrass-roots

men’shealthfieldinIreland.TheNMHPAP2008-2013wasdevelopedfollowinganextensiveresearch

andconsultationprocess(Figure3).Theneedforaspecificpolicyfocusonmen’shealthwasidentified

inIreland’sNationalHealthStrategyin2001129.ThispromptedtheDepartmentofHealthandChildren

to funda threeyearmen’shealth researchproject (‘Getting InsideMen’sHealth’230), thefindingsof

whichwerelaunchedatthefirstNationalConferenceonmen’shealthinIrelandwhichtookplacein

December2004.Aninter-departmentalandmulti-sectoralSteeringGroupwasappointedtooversee

thedevelopmentoftheNMHPAP2008-2013.UnderthetermsofreferenceoftheSteeringGroup,an

extensive and nationwide consultation processwas undertakenwith all relevant stakeholders. The

findingsfromthisconsultationprocess,togetherwithanextensivereviewoftheevidenceunderpinning

the issues raised, were then translated into concrete policy recommendations and actions which

addressedabroadrangeofmen’shealthissuesacrossanumberofgovernmentdepartments331,432.

Whilstthecaseforapolicyfocusonmen’shealthwasmultifaceted,clearly,theimpetusandmandate

formen’shealthpolicyactioninIrelandwasembeddedinsexdifferencesinhealthstatusbetweenmen

andwomen(lifeexpectancy,mortalityetc.).However,theNMHPAP2008-2013wasalsogroundedin:

(i)anacknowledgmentofdiversitywithinthecategorymen‘with due regard, in particular, to the social

determinants of men’s health’;(ii)anexplicitrecognitionoftheneedforagenderedapproachtomen’s

health;and(iii)awidergrass-rootsdevelopmentwithinmen’shealthwhichcontributeda‘bottomup’

aswellasa‘topdown’approachtopolicydevelopment.Itwaswithinthisbroaddeterminantsofhealth

context,andwithdueregardto thegenderednatureofmen’shealth, thatamalehealth issuewas

definedintheNMHPAP2008-2013as:

‘…any issue that can be seen to impact on men’s quality of life and for which there is a need for

gender-competent responses to enable men to achieve optimal health and wellbeing at both an

individual and a population level’. (DepartmentofHealthandChildren,2009,p17533)

29DepartmentofHealthandChildren(2001).HealthStrategy-QualityandFairness.AHealthSystemforYou.DepartmentofHealthandChildren,HawkinsHouse,Dublin.30RichardsonN.(2004).GettingInsideMen’sHealth.HealthPromotionDepartment,SouthEasternHealthBoard,Kilkenny.31DepartmentofHealthandChildren(2009).NationalMen’sHealthPolicyReferenceDocument.Availableat:http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/reference_document.pdf32RichardsonN.&CarrollP(2009).Gettingmen’shealthontoapolicyagenda-chartingthedevelopmentofanationalmen’shealthpolicyinIreland.JournalofMen’sHealth:Vol6,No2;105-113.33DepartmentofHealthandChildren(2009).NationalMen’sHealthPolicy:WorkingwithmeninIrelandtoachieveoptimumhealthandwellbeing.HawkinsHouse,Dublin.

importantthatboys’uptakeofSPHEandPhysicalEducation[PE]asshortcoursesatJuniorCycleis

carefullymonitoredtoensurethatyoungmenareavailingofthesecoursesand,consequently,being

equippedwith the life skills these courses providewhile at school. It is equally important that the

DoESworkscloselywiththeNationalCouncilforCurriculumandAssessment[NCCA]andappliesa

genderlenstoitsreviewoftheJuniorCyclereformtoensurethatthelearningneedsofboysarebeing

metbythereformedJuniorCycle.HI-M2017-2021providesamechanismtosupporttheup-skilling

of teachers todeliverSPHEeffectively toboysandalso toapplyagender lens toeducationaland

curriculumrelatedreviews.

20 21

Inkeepingwiththeapproachofdefiningmen’shealthinbroadterms,anumberofkeytheoreticaland

philosophicalprinciplesinformedthedevelopmentoftheNMHPAP2008-2013.Thesesameprinciples

remainvalidforthenewMen’sHealthActionPlan.TheNMHPAP2008-2013:

• wasfirmlypositionedwithinexistinggovernmentpolicy(inter-sectoral/inter-departmental)

andinvestedinanextensiveconsultationprocesstodevelopstrongpartnershipswithexisting

policyacrossanumberofgovernmentdepartments;

• placedafirmfocusonthegenderednatureofkeymen’shealthissues(e.g.alcohol,obesity,

mentalhealth,accesstoservices)andpromotedmen’shealthwithinamainstreamedequality

agendawithagenderfocus;

• adoptedasocialdeterminantsapproach;

• targetedinterventionsatbothanindividualandapopulationlevel;

• incorporatedacommunitydevelopmentapproach;

• focusedonpreventionaswellascure;

• adoptedastrengthsperspective;

• soughttosupportmentobecomemoreactiveagentsandadvocatesfortheirownhealth.

Figure 3:Keystepsintheevolution,developmentandimplementationofIreland’sNMHPAP2008-2013(seeRichardsonandCarroll,2009634;RichardsonandSmith,2011735)

In terms of implementation, a National Men’s Health Policy Implementation Group (NMHPIG) had

responsibilityforoverseeingtheimplementationoftheNMHPAP2008-2013.MembersoftheNMHPIG

werealsorepresentedonaNationalGenderMainstreamingFramework836.Anindependentevaluation

ofthepolicywaspublishedinApril2015(Baker,2015937).

34RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2009).Gettingmen’shealthontoapolicyagenda-chartingthedevelopmentofanationalmen’shealthpolicyinIreland.JournalofMen’sHealth:Vol6,No2;105-113.35RichardsonN.&SmithJ.(2011).Nationalmen’shealthpoliciesinIrelandandAustralia:whatarethechallengesassociatedwithtransitioningfromdevelopmenttoimplementation.PublicHealth125(7):424-432.36HealthServiceExecutive(2012).Equalbutdifferent:AframeworkforintegratinggenderequalityinHealthServiceExecutivePolicy,PlanningandServiceDelivery.NationalWomen’sCouncil.37BakerP.(2015).ReviewoftheNationalMen’sHealthPolicyandActionPlan2008-2013:FinalreportfortheHealthServiceExecutive.Availableat:http://pbmenshealth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ireland-Mens-Health-Policy-Review.Final-Full-Report.2015.pdf

appendix 4National Men’s Health Policy Review

approach takenthe Review138adoptedapragmaticapproachwiththeaimofprovidinganaccessibleandpractical

assessmentoftheNMHPAP2008-2013.Themethodologymainlycomprisedanationalandinternational

literature review, in-depthone-to-one interviewswith30keystakeholders,aqualitative focusgroup

(withmenatacommunitycentreinDublin),andanonlinesurveyofkeyrespondents(whichgenerated

over180responses).

Principal Findings of the reviewTheReviewconcludedthat,overall,theNMHPAP2008-2013hadmadeasignificantcontributionto

advancingmen’shealthinIreland.Specifically,theReviewhighlightedsignificantprogressinrelation

tofouroftheNMHPAP2008-2013’sstrategicaims:

• Promotinganincreasedfocusonmen’shealthresearchinIreland.

• Developinghealthpromotioninitiativesthatsupportmentoadoptpositivehealthbehaviours

andtoincreasecontrolovertheirlives.

• Buildingsocialcapitalwithincommunitiesformen.

• Thedevelopmentanddeliveryofmen’shealthtrainingforhealthandotherprofessionals.

The Review also paid tribute to the significant progress that had been achieved in developing

sustainable alliances andpartnerships in the area ofmen’s health, involving statutory, community/

voluntaryandacademicsectors.

The number and scope of the specific policy recommendations and actions were also critically

reviewed and adjudged to have been too extensive to have been achieved in the timeframe set.

However, the limited resourcesavailable for implementationof theNMHPAP2008-2013, in light of

theunprecedentedeconomic recession in Irelandat the timeof its launch,werealsoasignificant

impedimenttoitsimplementation.

38BakerP.(2015).ReviewoftheNationalMen’sHealthPolicyandActionPlan2008-2013.FinalreportfortheHealthServiceExecutive.Availableat:www.mhfi.org/policyreview2015.pdf

2001: national Health StrategyMandate for men’s health policy development

Jan 2002 - dec 2004: researchSpecificallycommissionedmen’shealthreport‘GettingInsideMen’sHealth’

Jan 2005 - dec 2008: Policy development• Nationwideconsultation• Reviewofevidence• Bilateralmeetings

Jan 2009: Publication of the nMHPaP 2008-2013

Jan 2009 - dec 2013: Implementation and evaluation• NationalMen’sHealthPolicyImplementationGroup• IndependentReviewpublishedApril2015• Publicationof‘HealthyIreland-Men’[HI-M2017-2021]2016

22 23

Inlightofitsachievements,theReviewfoundverystrongsupportforthecontinuationofadedicated

nationalpolicyonmen’shealth.Therewasafearthat,withoutthis,themomentumandtractionthathad

beenachievedthroughtheNMHPAP2008-2013wouldbelost:

‘Crucially, Ireland’s NMHP has provided a vision and a framework for action that has enabled

men’s health to gain traction and to develop momentum that would otherwise not have been

possible. Men’s health is now more visible and occupies a more prominent place in public

discourse. Its legacy will ultimately be judged as much by its broader interface with other policy

areas as by its success in relation to specific policy recommendations or actions.’

(Richardson,2013,p101239)

MostReviewparticipantstooktheviewthatmen’shealthought,inthefuture,tobeaddressedwithin

thegovernanceandimplementationstructuresoftheHealthyIrelandpolicyframework.Indeed,Review

participants noted that this could happen seamlessly on the basis that the Healthy Ireland policy

frameworkwasseenashighlyconsistentwiththeprinciplesandapproachtakentotheimplementation

oftheNMHPAP2008-2013.

Specifically, the NMHPAP 2008-2013 adopted a governance structure in accordance with good

practice (i.e. the NMHPIG) and progress wasmonitored internally and externally in a transparent

manner-throughthedevelopmentofannualreportsandcommissioningoftheReview340.

Partnershipsandcross-sectoralworkunderpinnedtheapproachtoimplementingtheNMHPAP2008-

2013atalllevels.Keyalliancesandpartnershipswereestablishedwitharangeofstakeholdersthat

included,butwasnotlimitedto,theHSE,Men’sDevelopmentNetwork[MDN],IrishCancerSociety

[ICS],IrishHeartFoundation[IHF],InstituteofPublicHealth[IPH],ITCarlow[ITC],WaterfordIT[WIT],

NationalOfficeforSuicidePrevention[NOSP]andtheMen’sHealthForuminIreland[MHFI].Through

these partnerships, men’s health has become embedded in a range of cross-sectoral work that

includesareassuchassuicideprevention,obesity,physicalactivityandSocialPersonalandHealth

Education[SPHE].Indeed,Irelandhasbecomealeaderinthefieldofmen’shealthpolicy,withstrong

internationallinksthatfurthersupporttheimplementationofworknationally.

39RichardsonN.(2013).BuildingMomentum,GainingTraction:Ireland’sNationalMen’sHealthPolicy-5yearson.NewMaleStudies2(3):93-103.40TheReview(2015)isavailableonlineat:www.mhfi.org/policyreview2015.pdf

Empoweringpeopleandcommunitiesiscoretomen’shealthpolicyinIrelandandisevidencedbya

rangeofinitiativesembeddedatnationallevel,withinworkplacesandacrossthecommunitysettinginparticular.Theseinclude:

• ThecelebrationofNationalMen’sHealthWeekannuallyviaanextensivepartnershipledbytheMHFi441;

• MenontheMove-acommunitybasedphysicalactivityprogrammethatintegratesmultiplelocalservicesledbytheLocalSportsPartnerships[LSP]542;

• DevelopmentofMen’sShedsnationally(n=300)thatareco-ordinatedbytheIrishMen’sShedsassociation643;and

• ExtensiveworkconductedandresourcesdevelopedbytheMDNaspartoftheirnationalbriefoncommunitydevelopmentformeninIreland744.

Traininghasbeenkeytoinitiatinghealthandhealthreform.ENGAGE(NationalMen’sHealthTrainingProgramme)845,946wasdevelopedtoincreasegendercompetencyamongthoseworkingwithmenandboysacrossavarietyof sectors. It consistsof sixUnits thataredeliveredas twodistinctonedaytrainingprogrammes[Units1-5;Unit6-ConnectingwithYoungMen].Fivepartners,withaviewtostandardisingmen’shealthtrainingacrosstheislandofIreland,developedtheseprogrammes.TheMDNhasalsodevelopedanational trainingprogramme[‘7KeyQuestions’1047]specifically for those

workingwithmenandboysinthecommunitysector.

TheReviewhighlightedthesignificantprogressmadeinrelationtoresearchandevidenceinthefieldofmen’shealthinIreland.TheestablishmentoftheNationalCentreforMen’sHealth[NCMH]atITCand itspartnershipwith theCentre forHealthBehaviourResearch [CHBR]atWIThassignificantlycontributedtothevolumeofresearchandthegenerationofevidencethatranparallelwithmanyoftheinitiativesarisingfromtheimplementationoftheNMHPAP2008-2013.Sinceitspublication,arangeof men’s health reports1148,1249,1350,peer reviewed1451,1552,1653,1754and non-peer reviewed papers have beenpublished, andan extensive number of conferencepresentations havebeengivenboth nationallyand internationally (see Appendix 6 for a complete list of research outputs, including conference

presentations).

41Seewww.mhfi.org/mhw/about-mhw.html42CanavanL.(2013).MenontheMoveActivityProgramme-EvaluationReport.Availableat:www.mayosports.ie/media/Media,20875,en.pdf43Seewww.menssheds.ie44Seewww.mens-network.net45RichardsonN.,BrennanL.,LambeB.&CarrollP.(2013).‘Engage’:NationalMen’sHealthTrainingProgrammeandResourcePack.Men’sHealthForuminIreland.46FowlerC.,RichardsonN.,CarrollP.,BrennanL.&MurrayF.(2015).ConnectingwithYoungMen:EngagingYoungMenNationalTrainingProgrammeandResourcePack.Men’sHealthForuminIreland.47Men’sDevelopmentNetwork.7Questionstraining:www.mensdevelopmentnetwork.ie48WhiteA.,deSousaB.,DeVisserR.,MadsenS.A.,MakaraP.,RichardsonN.&ZatonskiW.(2011).Thefirststateofmen’shealthinEuropereport.EuropeanUnion,Brussels.49RichardsonN.,ClarkeN.&FowlerC.(2013).YoungMenandSuicideProject.AreportfromtheMen’sHealthForuminIreland.50GraceB.,RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2015).EngagingYoungMenProject.AreportonthemappingexerciseconductedinIrelandin2014.Dublin:Men’sHealthForuminIreland.Availableat:www.mhfi.org/EYMPmappingreport.pdf51CarrollP.,KirwanL.&LambeB.(2014).Engaging‘hardtoreach’menincommunitybasedhealthpromotion.InternationalJournalofHealthPromotionandEducation,52(3):120-130.52KirwanL.,LambeB.&CarrollP.(2013).Aninvestigationintothepartnershipprocessofcommunitybasedhealthpromotionformen.InternationalJournalofHealthPromotionandEducation51(2):108-120.53RichardsonN.&CarrollP.GettingMen’sHealthontoaPolicyAgenda-ChartingtheDevelopmentofaNationalMen’sHealthPolicyinIreland.JournalofMen’sHealth,6(2):105-13.2009.54LefkowichM.,RichardsonN.,BrennanL.,LambeB.&CarrollP.AprocessevaluationofaTrainingofTrainers(ToT)modelofhealthtraininginIreland.HealthPromotionInternational[underreview].

24 25

AllfundingrelatingtotheNMHPAP2008-2013wasconditionaloncarefulmonitoring,reportingand

evaluation.Inparticular,therewasastrongfocusontranslatingresearchevidenceintopracticeand,

tothatend,anumberofeffectivepracticeguidelines1855,toolkits1956andhealthinformationbooklets2057,2158,2259

have been developed and a range of evaluation reports produced. All of these have beenmade

freelyavailableandhavebeenintegratedintoENGAGEtraining.Appendix1providesamoredetailed

overviewofhowtheNMHPAP2008-2013isalignedwiththeHealthyIrelandpolicyframework.

TheReviewrecommendedthatthereshouldbeacontinueddedicatednationalfocusonmen’shealth

in Ireland toensure that themomentumand traction thathasbeenachieved through theNMHPAP

2008-2013isnotlost.TheReviewalsorecommendedthedevelopmentofarevisedandmorefocused

ActionPlanformen’shealth thatshouldmakeexplicit linkstootherhealthpolicyareasandshould

clearly demonstrate how addressing men’s health would support the effective implementation of

HealthyIreland:

‘Ireland was the first country to adopt a distinct national men’s health policy. It now has an

opportunity to continue its leadership in this field by being the first to mainstream men’s health

throughout the comprehensive approach to improving public health embodied in Healthy

Ireland.’ (Baker,2015,p8)

55CarrollP.,KirwanL.&LambeB.(2013).CommunityBasedHealthPromotionforMen:AGuideforPractitioners.Waterford:CentreforHealthBehaviourResearch,WaterfordInstituteofTechnology.Availableat:www.researchgate.net/publication/260479595_Community_Based_Health_Promotion_for_Men._A_Guide_for_Practitioners 56McCarthyM.&RichardsonN.(2011).Bestpracticeapproachestotailoringlifestyleinterventionsforobesemenintheprimarycaresetting:AresourcebookletforhealthcareprofessionalsworkingwithobesemeninthePrimaryCareSetting.CentreforMen’sHealth,ITCarlow.57CarrollP.(2013).Men’sHealthMatters.APracticalGuidetoHealthcareforMen.CarlowCountyCouncil.58RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2013).Stayingfitforfarming(Ahealthbookletforfarmers).AnPost(2011).MaleMinder(AhealthbookletforAnPoststaff).59AnPost(2011).MaleMinder(AhealthbookletforAnPoststaff).

Appendix5The rationale for maintaining a specific focus on men’s health

Sex differences in life expectancy and mortalityAlthoughmalelifeexpectancyinIrelandhasincreasedbyalmostthreeyearssince2003,andthegap

betweenmaleandfemalelifeexpectancyhasnarrowedoverthesameperiod,malelifeexpectancy

remainsfourandhalfyearslowerthanfemalelifeexpectancy(78.7and83.2respectively),andmen

inIrelandcontinuetohavehigherdeathratesformostoftheleadingcausesofdeath(Table1)andat

allages(Table2)160,261.

table 1: Mortalitybycauseofdeath2012362

number of deaths deaths per 100,000

Cause of death Men Women Men Women Male:Female ratio

Circulatory diseases

4,656 4,611 205 199 1.0:1

Malignant neoplasms

4,577 3,967 202 171 1.2:1

accidents 633 323 28 14 2.0:1

Suicide 413 94 18 4 4.5:1

table 2: Mortalitybycauseofdeath2012463

age Group Males Females Male:Female ratio

0-4 87 75 1.2:1

5-14 10 9 1.1:1

15-24 68 22 3.1:1

25-64 275 167 1.6:1

65-74 1,934 1,177 1.6:1

75 and over 8,318 7,127 1.2:1

60DepartmentofHealth(2014).HealthinIreland.Keytrends.DepartmentofHealth,Dublin2.Availableat:http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/JD605-DHC_Key-Trends_2014WEB_03.12.14.pdf61CentralStatisticsOffice(2014).MenandWomeninIrelandReport.Availableat:www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-wamii/womenandmeninireland201362CentralStatisticsOffice(Accessed2016).VitalStatisticsAnnuals.Dublin:CentralStatisticsOffice.Availableat:www.cso.ie63CentralStatisticsOffice(Accessed2016).VitalStatisticsAnnuals.Dublin:CentralStatisticsOffice.Availableat:www.cso.ie

26 27

Inparticular,suicideisanissuethatcontinuestobeaparticularconcernamongmen,withmenbeing

4.5timesmorelikelytodiebysuicidethantheirfemalecounterparts164-whichisthelargestsexmortality

ratio(seeTable2).

Weknowthatthebroadersocialdeterminantssignificantlyinfluencemen’shealthoutcomes265 as well as

howtheyengagewiththeirhealthandmanagethemselveswithinhealthandsocialservices.Against

thisbackdrop,evidencesuggeststhatunderpinningmen’shighermortalityratesforchronicdiseases

arepoorerlifestylebehaviours.TherecentHealthyIrelandsurvey366highlightscontinueddisparitiesin

lifestylebehavioursbetweenmenandwomen:

• Overallalcoholconsumptionandfrequencyofbingedrinkingishigherinmenthaninwomen.

• Althoughsmokingratesaredeclining,moremensmoke(24%)thanwomen(21%).

• Theproportionofmenwhoareoverweight(43%)andobese(25%) ishigherthanforwomen

(31%and22%respectively).

• Men’sdietsarelesshealthythanwomen’sdiets.

• Onamorepositivenote,menaremuchmorelikelytobephysicallyactivethanwomen.

the Men and cancer Report467attributedpoorlifestylebehavioursastheprincipalcauseofwhymen

areatgreaterriskofgettingcancer,dyingfromcancer,andhavingsignificantlylowersurvivalthan

women (Figure 4). The report highlighted the urgent need for more targeted and gender-specific

lifestyleinterventionsthattargetthosesub-populationsofmenmostatrisk.Risktakingbehavioursmay

alsobeacontributingfactortofatalaccidents;themortalityrateformenfromaccidentsistwicethatof

women568,whilstapproximatelyfouroutoffivefatalitiesfromroadaccidentsaremale669.

64CentralStatisticsOffice(2016).VitalStatisticsAnnuals.Dublin:CentralStatisticsOffice.Availableat:www.cso.ie65LayteR.,BanksJ.,WalshC.&McKnightG.(2014).Trendsinsocio-economicinequalitiesinmortalitybysexinIrelandfromthe1980stothe2000s.IrJMedSci66DepartmentofHealth(2015).HealthyIrelandSurvey2015:http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Healthy-Ireland-Survey-2015-Summary-of-Findings.pdf67ClarkeN.,SharpL.,O’LearyE.&RichardsonN.(2013).Anexaminationoftheexcessburdenofcancerinmen.InstituteofTechnologyCarlow68CSO(2014).MenandWomeninIrelandReport.Availableat:www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-wamii/womenandmeninireland2013/healthlist/health/#d.en.6511769See:www.rsa.ie/RSA/Road-Safety/Our-Research/Deaths-injuries-on-Irish-roads

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

cRc Lung Bladder Melanoma stomach

incidence

Mortality

2.171.99

1.57

0.92

2.712.98

1.811.64

1.801.62

Cancer Site

Mal

e to

fem

ale

rate

ratio

s

Figure 4:Incidenceandmortalityrateratiosforselectedcancers2006-2008

Men’suseofservicesmayalsobeacontributing factor to theirhealthoutcomes.According to the

QuarterlyNationalHouseholdSurvey(2011)170,withtheexceptionofthe70+agecategory,menhad

fewerGPconsultations thanwomen in theprevious12months;women,onaverage,had1.5 times

moreconsultationsthanmen(range1.0-2.9morefemaleconsultations;70+yearsand25-34years

categories).Some34%ofmenhadnoGPconsultationintheprevioustwelvemonthscomparedwith

19%forwomen(some46%ofmalesaged18-34yearshadnoGPconsultation in theprevious12

months).

The importanceof targeting lifestylemodificationearly in lifeamongthosemenengaged inhealth-

damagingbehaviourshasbeenwellrecognised:

‘The seeds of death from degenerative conditions are probably sown in lifestyles established

earlier.’ 271p150

Healthpromotionandpreventativeeffortsneed, therefore, tostartwithboys. In recent times, there

hasbeensomegoodevidenceofsubstantivepositivechangeinboys’lifestylebehaviours.According

to theHBSCsurveyof 11-17 year old children in Ireland372, therewas,between1998and2010, a

statisticallysignificantdecreaseinthepercentageofboyswhoreported:

• thattheycurrentlysmoke(21.2%➔11.9%);

• thattheyhadeverbeendrunk(34.8%➔29.7%);and

• cannabisuseinthelast12months(14%➔10.2%).

Overall,theproportionofboyswhoreportexercisingfourormoretimesaweek(60%)hasremained

stableovertime.

It iswellestablished that lifestylebehavioursdevelopedearly in lifearepredictiveofbehaviours in

adulthood473.Continuedeffortsare,therefore,neededtotargetearlyyearslifestyleinterventionsamong

boys.

Health inequalities between different sub-populations of menWhilstaggregatedsexdifferencesinlifeexpectancyandmortalityareimportant,itishowevercrucially

important not to overlook the substantive differences in health status between different categories

ofmen. For example, compared tomen in the highest occupational classes,men from the lower

70CentralStatisticsOffice(2011).QuarterlyNationalHouseholdSurvey.Quarter3,2010.HealthStatusandHealthServiceUtilisation.Cork:CentralStatisticsOffice.71WhiteA.&HolmesM.(2006).Patternsofmortalityacross44countriesamongmenandwomenaged15-44years.JournalofMen’sHealthandGender.Vol.3,No.2,pp.139-51.72KellyC.,GavinA.,MolchoM.&NicGabhainnS.(2012).TheIrishHealthBehavioursinSchool-agedChildren(HBSC)Study2010.Dublin:DepartmentofHealth.73KelderS.H.,PerryC.L.,KleppK.I.&LytleL.L.(1994).Longitudinaltrackingofadolescentsmoking,physicalactivity,andfoodchoicebehaviours.AmericanJournalofPublicHealth,Jul84:71121-1126.

28 29

occupationalclasseshavepoorerhealthoutcomesandexperiencesignificantlyhighermortalityrates574.

Indeed,thegapbetweenrichandpoorerhasbeenincreasingratherthandecreasing:

‘There is a significant gradient in mortality rates across SEG for both men [higher] and women

with the absolute and relative differential between professional and manual occupational groups

increasing between the 1980s and 2000s ...’ (Layteetal,2014,p175)’675

AreportbytheInstituteofPublicHealth(2011)776ontheimpactofrecessionandunemploymentonmen’s

healthinIrelanddemonstratedstrongcausallinksbetweenrecession,unemploymentanddeclining

economicconditions,andthehealthandwellbeingofmeninIreland.Thereisalsoarangeofother

sub-populationsofmen,forwhomhealthoutcomesaresignificantlyworsethanthegeneralpopulation

ofIrishmen.Forexample,the2010All-IrelandTravellerHealthStudy877 revealed that life expectancy

for Travellermenwas 15.1 years lower than their general population counterparts. In fact, at 61.7

years,lifeexpectancyforTravellerswasfoundtobeatasimilarleveltothatofthegeneralpopulation

in the 1940s. In the context of Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual and Transgender [LGBT] groups, a recent

report978 raisedgraveconcernsabouthigher levelsofpsychologicaldistressrelatedtovictimisation

andstigmatisationamongLGBTpeople.This, in turn,wasrelatedtohigher levelsofself-harmand

suicidalityamongLGBTpeople-andyoungLGBTinparticular-whencomparedtotheirheterosexual

counterparts.Recentstudiesalsodrawattentiontohighratesofcardiovasculardisease1079 and a high

prevalenceofcardiovasculardiseaseriskfactors1180amongfarmersandfarmworkersinIreland.These

examplesunderline theneed forcontinuedand targetedapproaches to tackle thehealthneedsof

thosesub-populationsofmenmostinneedinordertoaddresshealthinequalitiesinIrishsociety.

74FarrellC.,McAvoyH.,WildeJ.andCombatPovertyAgency(2008).TacklingHealthInequalities-AnAll-IrelandApproachtoSocialDeterminants.Dublin:CombatPovertyAgency/InstituteofPublicHealthinIreland.75LayteR.,BanksJ.,WalshC.&McKnightG.(2014).Trendsinsocio-economicinequalitiesinmortalitybysexinIrelandfromthe1980stothe2000s.IrJMedSci76TheInstituteofPublicHealthinIreland(2011).Facingthechallenge:Theimpactofrecessionandunemploymentonmen’shealthinIreland.www.publichealth.ie/document/facing-challenge-impact-recession-and-unemployment-mens-health-ireland77UniversityCollegeDublin(2010).AllIrelandTravellerHealthStudy.SchoolofPublicHealth,PhysiotherapyandPopulationScience,UniversityCollegeDublin.78GLEN(2015).LGBTSelf-HarmandSuicidality:AnOverviewofNationalandInternationalResearchFindings.Availableat:www.glen.ie/attachments/LGBT_Self-Harm_&_Suicidality_-_an_overview_of_national_and_international_research_findings.pdf79SmythB.,EvansD.S.,KellyA.,CullenL.&O’DonovanD.(2013).ThefarmingpopulationinIreland:mortalitytrendsduringthe‘CelticTiger’years.EurJPublicHealth.Feb;23(1):50-5.80VanDoornD.,RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2015).FarmersHaveHeartsEvaluation:AreportcommissionedbytheIrishHeartFoundation.InstituteofTechnologyCarlow.

Appendix6national and international publications and presentations

Publication type 2009-2016

Peer reviewed Journal Publications

LefkowichM.&RichardsonN.Men’shealthinalternativespaces:ExploringMen’sShedsinIreland(manuscriptacceptedforpublication:HealthPromotionInternational).

OsborneA.,CarrollP.,RichardsonN.,DohenyM.,BrennanL.&LambeB.Fromtrainingtopractice:theimpactofENGAGE,Ireland’snationalmen’shealthtrainingprogramme(manuscriptsubmittedforpublication:HealthPromotionInternational).

RichardsonN.&CarrollP.It’snotrocketscience-thecaseforapolicyfocusonmen’shealth(manuscriptsubmittedforpublication:InternationalJournalofMen’sHealth).

vanDoornD.,OsborneA.&RichardsonN.FarmersHaveHearts:thecardiovascularhealthstatusofasub-groupofIrishfarmers(manuscriptsubmittedforpublication:RuralHealth).

GraceB.,RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2016).“…ifyou’renotpartoftheinstitutionyoufallbythewayside”:Serviceproviders’perspectivesonmovingyoungmenfromdisconnectionandisolationtoconnectionandbelonging.AmericanJournalofMen’sHealth;1-13;doi1557988316634088.

LefkowichM.,RichardsonN.,BrennanL.,LambeB.&CarrollP.(2016).AprocessevaluationofaTrainingofTrainers(ToT)modelofhealthtraininginIreland:HealthPromotionInternational:doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daw056.

McCarthyM.,RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2016).Theroleofprimarycare:men’sperspectivesonattemptingtoloseweightthroughacommunity-baseddieticianservices.NewMaleStudies:5(1):48-67.

LefkowichM.,RichardsonN.&RobertsonS.(2015).“Ifwewanttogetmenin,thenweneedtoaskmenwhattheywant”:PathwaystoEffectiveHealthProgrammingforMen.Doi1557988315617825.

RichardsonN.,OsborneA.,O’NeillB.,GriffinP.,McNamaraJ.,RocheC.&vanDoornD.(2015).‘StayingFitforFarming:AhealthbookletdesignedforIrishFarmers’.JAgromedicine20(3):381-5.

CarrollP.,KirwanL.&LambeB.(2014).Engaging‘hardtoreach’menincommunitybasedhealthpromotion.InternationalJournalofHealthPromotionandEducation,52(3):120-130.

KirwanL.,LambeB.&CarrollP.(2013).Aninvestigationintothepartnershipprocessofcommunitybasedhealthpromotionformen.InternationalJournalofHealthPromotionandEducation51(2):108-120.

RichardsonN.(2013).BuildingMomentum,GainingTraction:Ireland’sNationalMen’sHealthPolicy-5yearsOn.NewMaleStudies,2(3):93-103.

30 31


Peer reviewed Journal Publications

WhiteA.,deSousaB.,DeVisserR.,MadsenS.A.,MakaraP.,RichardsonN.&ZatonskiW.(2013).Europe’smissingmen;theimpactoflifeexpectancyimprovementsonmen’sprematuremortality.TheEuropeanJournalofPublicHealth;10.1093:1-7.

WhiteA.,McKeeM.,RichardsonN.,DeVisserR.,MadsenS.A.,deSousaB.,MakarP.&ZatonskiW.(2011).Europe’smenneedtheirownhealthstrategy.BMJ,343:d7397-11.

WhiteA.,deSousaB.,MakaraP.,DeVisserR.,MadsenS.A.,RaineG.,RichardsonN.,ClarkeN.&ZatonskiW.(2011).Men’shealthinEurope.Men’sHealthJournal,8(3):192-201.

WhiteA.&RichardsonN.(2011).Genderedepidemiology:Makingmen’shealthvisibleinepidemiologicalresearch.PublicHealth,125(7):407-410.

RichardsonN.&SmithJ.(2011).Nationalmen’shealthpoliciesinIrelandandAustralia:whatarethechallengesassociatedwithtransitioningfromdevelopmenttoimplementation.PublicHealth,125(7):424-432.

RichardsonN.(2010).“The‘buck’stopswithme”-reconcilingmen’slayconceptualisationsofresponsibilityforhealthwithmen’shealthpolicy.HealthSociologyReview,20(2):419-436.

SmithJ.,RobertsonS.&RichardsonN.(2010).Understandinggenderequityinthecontextofmen’shealthpolicydevelopment.HealthPromotionJournalofAustralia,21(1):76-77.

RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2009).Gettingmen’shealthontoapolicyagenda-chartingthedevelopmentofanationalmen’shealthpolicyinIreland.JournalofMen’sHealth,6(2):105-113.

SmithJ.,WhiteA.,RichardsonN.&RobertsonS.(2009).Themen’shealthpolicycontextsinAustralia,theUKandIreland:Advancementorabandonment?CriticalPublicHealth,9(3-4):427-440.

Conference Proceedings

RobertsonC.,ArchibaldD.,AvenellA.,DouglasF.,HoddinottP.,vanTeijlingenE.,BoyersD.,StewartF.,BoachieC.,FioratouE.,WilkinsD.,StreetT.,CarrollP.&FowlerC.(2014).Systematicreviewsandintegratedreportonthequantitative,qualitativeandeconomicevidencebaseforthemanagementofobesityinmen.HealthTechnolAssess.18(35),1-424.Availableat:www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/118180/FullReport-hta18350.pdf

CarrollP.(2009).EngagingVulnerableMeninIreland.JournalofMen’sHealth,6(3):273no.182.


Conference Presentations- Oral and Poster

Oral:

RichardsonN.(2015).Challengesandopportunitiesformen’shealth.Men’sHealthSymposium.Dublin,15thApril.

vanDoornD.,RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2015).FarmersHaveHeartsprogrammeevaluation.Men’sHealthSymposium.Dublin,15thApril.

CarrollP.,LefkowichM.,RichardsonN.,BrennanL.,LambeB.&OsborneA.(2015).ENGAGE.Ireland’sNationalMen’sHealthTrainingProgramme.Men’sHealthSymposium.Dublin,15thApril.

CarrollP.,KirwanL.&LambeB.(2015).Engaging‘HardtoReach’MeninCommunityBasedHealthPromotion.InternationalConferenceonMasculinities:EngagingMenandBoysforGenderEquality.NewYork,5th-8thMarch.

GraceB.,RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2015).EngagingYoungMenProject:Thedesignandevaluationofatrainingprogrammetargetedatfrontlineserviceproviderstoengagemoreeffectivelywithyoungmen.InternationalConferenceonMasculinities:EngagingMenandBoysforGenderEquality.NewYork,5th-8thMarch.

KeohaneA.,RichardsonN.&Osborne,A.(2015).“…sometimesthethingsthatworrypeoplethemostisthelastthingtheywilltalkabout…”applyingagenderlenstoinformnationalsuicidepreventioninterventions.InternationalConferenceonMasculinities:EngagingMenandBoysforGenderEquality.NewYork,5th-8thMarch.

LefkowichM.,RichardsonN.&RobertsonS.(2015).Ifwewanttogetmenin,thenweneedtoaskmenwhattheywant.InternationalConferenceonMasculinities:EngagingMenandBoysforGenderEquality.NewYork,5th-8thMarch.

LefkowichM.&RichardsonN.(2015).“IcometotheShed,Ifeelbetteraboutmyself,Igohomeandtreatmyfamilyinabetterway”:ExploringMasculinitiesandMen’sShedsinIreland.InternationalConferenceonMasculinities:EngagingMenandBoysforGenderEquality.NewYork,5th-8thMarch.

RichardsonN.,BrennanL.,LambeB.&CarrollP.(2015).Engage:Ireland’sNationalMen’sHealthTrainingProgramme-aninteractiveworkshop.InternationalConferenceonMasculinities:EngagingMenandBoysforGenderEquality.NewYork,5th-8thMarch.

RichardsonN.(2015).Engage:Ireland’snationalmen’shealthtrainingprogramme.InternationalConferenceonMasculinities:EngagingMenandBoysforGenderEquality.NewYork,5th-8thMarch.

RichardsonN.(2014).Men’sSheds:Layingthefoundationsformen’shealth.IrishMen’sShedsAssociationNationalConference.DublinCityUniversity,November.

BarryM.,StathamJ.,Barry-MurphyB.,BrennanL.&CarrollP.(2014).UnderstandingWellbeinginChangingTimes:TheRoleofSPHE.SPHENetworkConference.Dublin,October.

RichardsonN.,OsborneA.,O’NeillB.,GriffinP.,McNamaraJ.,RocheC.&vanDoornD.(2014).StayingFitforFarming:AhealthbookletdesignedforIrishfarmers.7thInternationalSymposium:SafetyandHealthinAgricultureandRuralPopulations:GlobalPerspectives,Saskatoon19th-22ndOctober.

32 33



Oral:

KeohaneA.,RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2014).Applyingagenderlenstoanationalsuicidepreventionsocialmarketingcampaign.Men,HealthandWellbeing:CriticalInsights.LeedsMetropolitanUniversity,7th-8thJuly.

RichardsonN.(2014).Engaging‘hardtoreach’men.Men,HealthandWellbeing:CriticalInsights.LeedsMetropolitanUniversity,7th-8thJuly.

CanavanL.&CarrollP.(2014).‘MenontheMove’activityprogramme:anevaluation.18thAnnualHealthPromotionConference.ApplyingthePrinciplesofHealthPromotiontoPopulationHealthImprovement.NUIGalway,June.

CarrollP.,KirwanL.,BrennanL.&LambeB.(2014).CommunityBasedHealthPromotion:AGuideforPractitioners.18thAnnualHealthPromotionConference.ApplyingthePrinciplesofHealthPromotiontoPopulationHealthImprovement.NUIGalway,June.

DohenyM.,OsborneA.,RichardsonN.,LambeB.,BrennanL.&CarrollP.(2014).Engage-Ireland’sNationalMen’sHealthTrainingProgramme.18thAnnualHealthPromotionConference.ApplyingthePrinciplesofHealthPromotiontoPopulationHealthImprovement.NUIGalway,June.

RichardsonN.(2014).Tacklingmaleobesityintheprimarycaresetting.RoyalCollegeofGeneralPractitioners’Conference.London,30thApril.

vanDoornD.,RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2014).HealthpromotionandIrishfarmers.MakinganImpact2014Final.HigherEducationAuthority.DublinCityUniversity,12thMarch.

RichardsonN.(2013).Overviewoflifestylesandriskfactorsformen’shealthanddirectionsforhealthpromotion-Concepts,ResearchProjectsandBestPracticeExamples.EuropeanPublicHealthConference.Brussels,16thNovember.

RichardsonN.(2013).AreportontheexcessburdenofcanceramongmeninIreland.AustralianNationalMen’sHealthConference.Brisbane,22nd-25thOctober.

RichardsonN.(2013).AnoverviewofENGAGE-Ireland’sNationalMen’sHealthTrainingProgramme.AustralianNationalMen’sHealthConference.Brisbane,22nd-25thOctober.

RichardsonN.(2013).InvestigatingtheImpactofaMen’sHealthandWellbeingProgrammeTargetedatDisadvantagedMeninDublin’sInnerCity.AustralianNationalMen’sHealthConference.Brisbane,22nd-25thOctober.

RichardsonN.(2013).Youngmenandsuicide.IrishCollegeofGeneralPractitioners’SummerSchool.Kilkenny,20thJune.

RichardsonN.(2013).NationalMen’sHealthPolicy:Keylessonslearnedintransitioningtopolicyimplementation.NationalMen’sHealthConference.Dublin,13thJune.

RichardsonN.(2013).AreportontheexcessburdenofcancerinmenintheRepublicofIreland.ReportLaunch.Dublin,11thJune.

RichardsonN.(2013).Men’sHealthPolicyContext:TheIrishExperience.Men’sHealthSymposium,EUParliament.Brussels,19thMarch.



Oral:

RichardsonN.(2013).Men’shealthinthefarmingcommunity.IOSHConference.Dundrum,CoTipperary,13thMarch.

RichardsonN.(2013).Whytheexcessburdenofcancerinmen?-Anoverview.MenandCancerSymposium.London,29thJanuary.

RichardsonN.(2013).TheYoungMenandSuicideProject.ReportLaunch.Dublin,23rdJanuary.

RichardsonN.(2012).Challengingtimesformen-challengingtimesformasculinity.Profilingmen’shealthinthesouth-east.Men’sDevelopmentNetwork,14thNovember.

RichardsonN.(2012).Understandingmen’shealthfromasocialdeterminantsperspective.InternationalConferenceonGenderandHealth.Montreal,Canada,29thOctober.

RichardsonN.(2012).AnoverviewoftheMen’sHealthandWellbeingProgrammeinDublin’sinnercity.Kelowna,BritishColumbia,Canada,9thOctober.

BrennanL.,KirwanL.,LambeB.&CarrollP.(2012).Aninvestigationintothepartnershipprocessofcommunitybasedhealthpromotionformen.HealthPromotionSummerSchool:‘EmbracingNewAgendasforHealthPromotionAction-Developingworkforcecompetenciesforeffectivepractice’.NUIGalway,June.

CarrollP.,KirwanL.&LambeB.(2012).Engagingvulnerablemenincommunitybasedhealthpromotion.HealthPromotionSummerSchool:‘EmbracingNewAgendasforHealthPromotionAction-Developingworkforcecompetenciesforeffectivepractice’.NUIGalway,June.

RichardsonN.(2012).Isthereaneedforgenderedhealthpolicies?GenderandHealththroughLife.Copenhagen,Denmark,14thJune.

RichardsonN.(2012).Inequalitiesandmen’shealth?Turningthepolicyspotlightonmen.InequalitiesinHealthConference.UCD,18thApril.

CarrollP.(2011).IrishSportsCouncilPAProgrammeforMen.9thMarch.

RichardsonN.(2011).Men’shealthpolicycontextinIreland.Boys’andMen’sHealthForum-hostedbyPublicHealthAgencyandInstituteofGenderandHealthCanada.Ottawa,Canada,22ndNovember.

RichardsonN.(2011).ThefirstEUReportonMen’sHealth:Whatarethepolicyimplications?ForumonEUMen’sHealthReport.LeedsMetropolitanUniversity,3rdNovember.

RichardsonN.(2011).AnoverviewofthecurrentcontextofsuicideincidenceamongyoungpeopleinNorthernIreland.SuicidePreventionConference.Queen’sUniversityBelfast,20thOctober.

RichardsonN.(2011).Menandaddiction-FatalAttraction(Effectivesmokingcessation).WorldCongressonMen’sHealth.Vienna,3rdOctober.

34 35



Oral:

RichardsonN.(2011).MissingMen:Findingsfrom‘TheStateofMen´sHealthinEurope’Report.WorldCongressonMen’sHealth.Vienna,2ndOctober.

DunneN.&RichardsonN.(2011).MaleMinder:theimpactofaspecificallycommissionedmen’shealthbookletintheworkplace.NationalMen’sHealthConference.Perth,Australia,20thSeptember.

RichardsonN.&LambeB.(2011).Tacklingmaleobesityintheprimarycaresetting.IrishCollegeofGeneralPractitioners’SummerSchool.Kilkenny,23rdJune.

RichardsonN.(2011).Countingthecostsofaccidentsinmen:ImplicationsfromthefirstEUreportonmen’shealth.InternationalConferenceonOccupationalHealthandsafety.Kilkenny,15thJune.

RichardsonN.(2011).KeyfindingsofthefirstEUReportonMen’sHealth.EUParliament,Brussels,14thJune.

RichardsonN.(2011).Bestpracticeapproachestotailoringlifestyleinterventionsforobesemenintheprimarycaresetting.WeightoMen’sHealth-Conference.Safefood,Belfast,8thJune.

RichardsonN.(2011).The‘buck’stopswithme-reconcilingmen’slayconceptualisationsofresponsibilityforhealthwithmen’shealthpolicy.MenandMasculinitiesConference.Quebec,Canada,12thMarch.

CarrollP.&LambeB.(2010).BriefInterventionsandMen’sHealth.HealthPromotionSummerSchool-MultidisciplinaryApproachestoMen’sHealth.NUIGalway,9thJune.

CarrollP.(2010).AdvocatingforMen’sHealth:ACommunityDevelopmentPerspective.PanelPresentationatthe7thWorldCongressonMen’sHealth.Nice,October.

DunneN.&RichardsonN.(2010).MaleMinder:theimpactofaspecificallycommissionedmen’shealthbookletintheworkplace.HealthPromotionSummerSchool.UniversityCollegeGalway,11thJune.

McCarthyM.&RichardsonN.(2010).Bestpracticeapproachestotailoringlifestyleinterventionsforobesemenintheprimarycaresetting.HealthPromotionSummerSchool.UniversityCollegeGalway,11thJune.

CarrollP.(2010).TheCarlowMen’sHealthProject.HealthPromotionSummerSchool-‘MultidisciplinaryApproachestoMen’sHealth’.NUIGalway,June.

ClarkeN.&RichardsonN.(2010).AnevaluationoftheLarkinCentre’sMen’sHealthandWellbeingProgramme.HealthPromotionSummerSchool.UniversityCollegeGalway,10thJune.

KirwanL.,CarrollP.&LambeB.(2010).Communitybasedhealthscreeningtargetingvulnerablemen.HealthPromotionSummerSchool-‘MultidisciplinaryApproachestoMen’sHealth’.NUIGalway,June.

RichardsonN.(2010).Men’shealthinIreland:Keymilestonestodate,keychallengesahead.HealthPromotionSummerSchool.UniversityCollegeGalway,10thJune.



Oral:

RichardsonN.(2010).Men’sHealthinIreland:ThefirstNationalStrategy.AndrologyAustraliaConference.Sydney,5thJune.

RichardsonN.(2010).ChallengestoEngagingMeninHealthServices.ManMattersConference.Belfast,18thMay.

KirwanL.,CarrollP.&LambeB.(2009).DevelopingastrategytoaddressthehealthneedsofvulnerablemeninCarlow.PostgraduatePresentationDay.WaterfordInstituteofTechnology,December.

CarrollP.(2009).TheApproachtoPolicyDevelopment.EuropeanMen’sHealthForumNetworkMeeting.Vienna,Austria,9th-11thOctober.

CarrollP.&BrennanL.(2009).ManagingtheReluctantMaleAttender.IrishCongressofGeneralPractitioners’SummerSchool.Kilkenny,June.

CarrollP.&MurrayF.(2009).NationalMen’sHealthPolicy2008-2013.RegionalHealthForum-DublinNorthEast,CommitteeMeeting.Meath,April.

RichardsonN.(2009).Lookingbeyondtheprostate:Reflectingontheparadoxes,dilemmasandchallengesformen’shealthinthe21stCentury.InequalitiesandHealthForum.UniversityofLimerick,4thDecember.

CarrollP.(2009).EngagingVulnerableMeninIreland.PanelPresentationatthe6thWorldCongressonMen’sHealth.Vienna,October.

RichardsonN.(2009).Men’sHealthinIreland:ThefirstNationalStrategy.Keynotepresentationat6thWorldCongressonMen’sHealth.Vienna,10thOctober.

RichardsonN.(2009).Mencounttoo:Harnessingstrengththroughchallengingtimes.ClareMentalHealthWeek.Ennis,6thOctober.

RichardsonN.(2009).WhatdoesaMale-FriendlyPracticelooklike?IrishCollegeofGeneralPractitioners’AnnualConference.Kilkenny,23rdJune.

RichardsonN.(2009).NationalMen’sHealthPolicy:WorkingwithmeninIrelandtoachieveoptimumhealthandwellbeing.Launchofmen’shealthpolicy.DepartmentofHealthandChildren,28thJanuary.

CarrollP.(2008).PuttingtheMANbackintoMen’sHealth.IrishCongressofGeneralPractitioners’AGM.Galway,May.

CarrollP.(2007).TurningtheSpotlightonthe‘Men’in‘Men’sHealth’.IrishCongressofGeneralPractitioners’SummerSchool.Kilkenny,June.

RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2005).Gettingmen’shealthontoapolicyagenda-challengesandopportunities.Keynotepresentationatthe6thNationalAustralianMen’sHealthConference.Melbourne,October.

CarrollP.(2004).TheDevelopmentoftheNationalMen’sHealthPolicy.1stNationalMen’sHealthConference.Wexford,December.

36 37



Poster:

vanDoornD.,RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2015).FarmersHaveHearts.Usinggenderstrategiestoengagemeninnon-traditionalhealthspaces.InternationalConferenceonMasculinities:EngagingMenandBoysforGenderEquality.NewYork,5th-8thMarch.

LefkowichM.&RichardsonN.(2014).‘Shedding’LightonMen’sHealth:TheParadoxofPolitics,PrivilegeandPowerinGlobalHealth.PreliminaryfindingsfromthefirstexploratoryqualitativestudyofMen’sShedsinIreland.GlobalHealthSummit.Toronto,5thNovember.

GraceB.,RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2014).EngagingYoungMenProject.ACAMHTransitionsandYouthMentalHealth-4thNationalOne-DayResearchConferenceonYouthMentalHealth.Cork,10thOctober.

KeohaneA.,RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2014).Applyingagenderlenstoanationalsuicidepreventionsocialmarketingcampaign.ACAMHTransitionsandYouthMentalHealth-4thNationalOne-DayResearchConferenceonYouthMentalHealth.Cork,10thOctober.

DohenyM.,OsborneA.,RichardsonN.,LambeB.,BrennanL.&CarrollP.(2014).Engage-Ireland’sNationalMen’sHealthTraining.Men,HealthandWellbeing:CriticalInsights.CentreforMen’sHealth,LeedsMetropolitanUniversity,July.

vanDoornD.,RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2014).FarmersHaveHearts.Men,HealthandWellbeing:CriticalInsights.LeedsMetropolitanUniversity,7th-8thJuly.

CarrollP.,KirwanL.,BrennanL.&LambeB.(2014).Men’sHealthMatters:APracticalGuidetoHealthcareforMen.18thAnnualHealthPromotionConference.ApplyingthePrinciplesofHealthPromotiontoPopulationHealthImprovement.NUIGalway,June.

RichardsonN.(2012).Turningthepolicyspotlightonmen’shealth-lessonslearnedfromIreland.InternationalConferenceonGenderandHealth.Montreal,Canada,28th-30thOctober.

KirwanL.,LambeB.&CarrollP.(2011).Morethanjustaphysicalactivityprogramme.Futureperspectivesforintervention,policyandresearchonmenandmasculinities:aninternationalforumforthesharingandexchangeofknowledge.Quebec,Canada,March.

Book Chapters ShawC.,LohanM.&RichardsonN.(2015).Fathersandparenting.Learningonthejob:ParentinginmodernIreland.OakTreePress.

SmithJ.A.,RichardsonN.&RobertsonS.Applyingagenderlenstopublichealthdiscoursesonmen’shealth(InPress).

Other e.g. Blogs, Policy documents etc.

reports / Policy documents:

GraceB.,RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2015).EngagingYoungMenProject.AreportonthemappingexerciseconductedinIrelandin2014.Dublin:Men’sHealthForuminIreland.Availableat:www.mhfi.org/EYMPmappingreport.pdf

RichardsonN.(2015).Socialintegrationandriskofsuicideinmen(Commentary).NationalInstituteforHealthandCareExcellence(NICE)www.nice.org.uk/Media/Default/newsletter/Eyes-on-Evidence-April-2015.pdf



LefkowichM.,RichardsonN.&RobertsonS.(2015).Engagingmenaspartnersandparticipants:guidingprinciples,strategiesandperspectivesforcommunityinitiativesandholisticpartnerships.InstituteofTechnologyCarlow.

vanDoornD.,RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2015).FarmersHaveHeartsEvaluation:AreportcommissionedbytheIrishHeartFoundation.InstituteofTechnologyCarlow.

GraceB.,RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2014).EngagingYoungMen:AreportcommissionedbytheNationalOfficeforSuicidePrevention.InstituteofTechnologyCarlow.

ClarkeN.,SharpL.,O’LearyE.&RichardsonN.(2013).Anexaminationoftheexcessburdenofcancerinmen:AreportcommissionedbytheIrishCancerSociety.InstituteofTechnologyCarlow.

RichardsonN.,ClarkeN.&FowlerC.(2013).YoungMenandSuicideProject.AreportfromtheMen’sHealthForuminIreland.

WhiteA.,deSousaB.,DeVisserR.,MadsenS.A.,MakaraP.,RichardsonN.&ZatonskiW.(2011).Thefirststateofmen’shealthinEuropereport.EuropeanUnion,Brussels.

KirwanL.,MurphyN.,LambeB.&CarrollP.(2010).NationalMen’sHealthWeek2010:EvaluationReport.Derry:Men’sHealthForuminIreland.Availableat:www.mhfi.org

McCarthyM.,RichardsonN.,KirwanL.,O’ConnellL.,DunneN.&CarrollP.(2009).NationalMen’sHealthWeek2009:EvaluationReport.Belfast:Men’sHealthForuminIreland.Availableat:www.mhfi.org

RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2009).Men’sHealthinIreland:InMen’sHealthAroundtheWorld-AreportfromtheEuropeanMen’sHealthForum.Availableat:www.xyonline.net/sites/default/files/EMHF,%20Men’s%20Health%20Around%20the%20World%2009.pdf

DepartmentofHealthandChildren.(2008).NationalMen’sHealthPolicy2008-2013:WorkingwithmeninIrelandtoachieveoptimumhealthandwellbeing.HawkinsHouse,Dublin2.Authors:RichardsonN.andCarrollP.

DepartmentofHealthandChildren.(2008).NationalMen’sHealthPolicy2008-2013.WorkingwithmeninIrelandtoachieveoptimumhealthandwellbeing.ReferenceDocument.Authors:RichardsonN.andCarrollP.Availableat:http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/reference_document.pdf

McEvoyR.&RichardsonN.(2004).Men’sHealthinIreland.Men’sHealthForuminIreland.Availableat:www.mhfi.org

RichardsonN.(2004).GettingInsideMen’sHealth.HealthPromotionUnit,DepartmentofHealthandChildren.Availableat:http://health.gov.ie/blog/publications/getting-inside-mens-health

38 39



Other Publications

CarrollP.(2015).MenontheMove.HealthInformationBooklet.CentreforHealthBehaviourResearch,WaterfordInstituteofTechnology.Availableat:www.wit.ie/about_wit/contact_us/staff_directory/paula_carroll#tab=repouser

FowlerC.,RichardsonN.,CarrollP.,BrennanL.&MurrayF.(2015).ConnectingwithYoungMen:EngagingYoungMenNationalTrainingProgrammeandResourcePack.Men’sHealthForuminIreland.

CarrollP.,KirwanL.&LambeB.(2013).CommunityBasedHealthPromotionforMen:AGuideforPractitioners.CentreforHealthBehaviourResearch,WaterfordInstituteofTechnology.Availableat:www.researchgate.net/publication/260479595_Community_Based_Health_Promotion_for_Men._A_Guide_for_Practitioners

CarrollP.(2013).Men’sHealthMatters.APracticalGuidetoHealthcareforMen.[2ndEdition].CentreforHealthBehaviourResearch,WaterfordInstituteofTechnology.

RichardsonN.,BrennanL.,CarrollP.&LambeB.(2013).Engage:NationalMen’sHealthTrainingProgrammeandResourcePack.InstituteofTechnologyCarlow.

RichardsonN.&OsborneA.(2013).‘StayingFitForFarming’-Ahealthbookletforfarmers(September).

RichardsonN.,ClarkeN.&FowlerC.(2013).YoungMenandSuicide.ModernMedicine(March).

RichardsonN.(2012).Overweightor‘justbig-boned’-tacklingmaleobesityinprimarycare.ModernMedicine(December).

RichardsonN.(2012).Engenderinganewapproachtomen’shealth.ModernMedicine,Vol44,No1:6-8.

RichardsonN.(2012).HealthandIrishMen(HealthSupplement;Issue2).FederationofIrishSocieties/NationalCancerActionTeam.March.

CarrollP.(2011).Men’sHealthMatters:APracticalGuidetoHealthcareforMen.CentreforHealthBehaviourResearch,WaterfordInstituteofTechnology.

McCarthyM.&RichardsonN.(2011).Bestpracticeapproachestotailoringlifestyleinterventionsforobesemenintheprimarycaresetting:Aresourcebookletforhealthcareprofessionalsworkingwithobesemenintheprimarycaresetting.CentreforMen’sHealth,ITCarlow.

RichardsonN.&ClarkeN.(2011).Men’sHealthinNorthernIreland:TacklingtheRootCausesofMen’s[ill]-Health.ManMattersPolicyBriefingPaperNo1.

RichardsonN.&LambeB.(2011).Tacklingmaleobesityintheprimarycaresetting.Forum(JournalofICGP).September.

RichardsonN.(2010).TheCaseforaDefenceForcesroleinpromotingphysicalactivityandsupportingthedeliveryofphysicaleducationinIrishschools.OireachtasCommitteeReport,15thDecember.



Other Publications

RichardsonN.,DunneN.&ClarkeN.(2010).TheLarkinCentre:Men’sHealthandWellbeingProgrammeEvaluationReport.CentreforMen’sHealth,ITCarlow.

RichardsonN.&CarrollP.(2009).TopTipstoSupportMentoAccessPrimaryCareServices.Men’sHealthForuminIreland.Availableat:www.mhfi.org/toptips2009.pdf

RichardsonN.(2008).NationalMen’sHealthPolicy2008-2013:WorkingwithmeninIrelandtoachieveoptimumhealthandwellbeing.Forum(JournalofICGP).

RichardsonN.(2008).DyingforaPolicyFocusonMen’sHealth.EuropeanCanCerOrganisation(ECCO).

40 41

Appendix7Membership of National Men’s Health Policy Implementation Group who oversaw the development of HI-M 2017-2021

DrJohnDevlin,DoH

MsSandraBarnes,DoH

MsBiddyO’Neill,HSE

MrOwenMetcalfe,IPH

MrAlanO’Neill,MDN

MrLorcanBrennan,MDN

MrFinianMurray,MHFI

MsJoanneVance/MrKevinO’Hagan,ICS

MsAnnScanlon,IHF

DrNoelRichardson,NCMH,ITC

DrPaulaCarroll,CHBR,WIT

drafting Committee:Ms Biddy o’Neill

Mr alan o’Neill

Mr lorcan Brennan

DrNoelRichardson

DrPaulaCarroll

authors:DrNoelRichardson

DrPaulaCarroll

42 43

Appendix8Overview of existing policy that will be supported by actions from HI-M 2017-2021

Policy area

existing Policy / Strategy / Framework

recommendations actions actions from HI-M 2017-2021 that support existing policy

1 changing CardiovascularHealth:NationalCardiovascularHealth Policy 2010-201981

Recommendation 3.1(Preventionand Health Promotion)

Prioritise actions (andreachtargets)thatpromote the health behaviourprofilesunderpinningcardiovascularhealth

A2.1SeeMenontheMovePolicyArea7A2.2SeeMen’sShedsPolicyArea8A2.8ImplementtherecommendationsoftheFarmersHaveHeartsevaluationinthefutureroll-outofcardiovascularriskscreening(includingbroadeningthereach of the programme to other male populationgroups)

Recommendation 3.2(Preventionand Health Promotion)

Inter-sectoralworkshouldbegiventhe priority it needs todeliverhealth-relatedbenefitandreductionsininequalityincardiovascularhealth targets

A2.3SupporttheGAAwiththeimplementationandongoingevaluationoftheHealthyClubsInitiative-whichadoptsaninter-sectoralapproachtohealth promotion and disease preventionA3.1ContinuetosupportENGAGEtrainers to deliver training to front line serviceproviders(includingtheup-skillingofTrainerstodeliverUnits1-5asstand-aloneUnits)A3.6ContinuetocelebrateMHWandtobuildupontheMHWpartnershipnetworkestablishedtodateA3.7ContinuetosupporttheNationalFarm safety Partnership to promote improvedhealthandwellbeingamongthefarmingcommunity

2 National cancer Strategy2006:a strategy for cancer control in ireland (EvaluationPanel Report 30thDecember2014)82

Recommendation 3(PreventionandScreening)

Thereshouldbeasustainedemphasis on primary prevention and screening

A2.1SeeMenontheMovePolicyArea7A2.2SeeMen’sShedsPolicyArea8A2.3SeeGAAHealthyClubPolicyArea1A3.1SeeENGAGEPolicyArea1A3.6SeeNationalMen’sHealthWeekarea 1A3.7SeeNationalFarmSafetyPartnership area 1

Recommendation 9(Research)

Developacomprehensive infrastructuretofacilitate research

A2.7SupporttheimplementationoftheMenandCancerReportwithaparticularfocusoncancerandhealthliteracy(focusingonthecancerinformationneedsofmenover40yearsofagefromlowersocio-economicgroups)

81DepartmentofHealthandChildren(2010)82DepartmentofHealth(2015)

44 45

Policy area



3 TobaccoFreeireland action Plan83

Recommendation 9.9:Offerhelptoquittobaccouse

Undertaketargeted approaches for specificgroups(includingyoungpeople and lower socio-economicgroups)

A3.6SeeMen’sHealthWeekPolicyArea1

Recommendation 10.1:Nationaland international Partnerships

Statutoryandnon-statutoryagenciestoworkcollaborativelytoachieve policy aims

A2.1SeeMenontheMove,PolicyArea7re.asnowballeffectontobaccoconsumptionA2.2SeeMen’sShedsPolicyArea8re.asnowballeffectontobaccoconsumptionA2.3SeeGAAHealthyClubPolicyArea1re.asnowballeffectonalcoholconsumptionA3.1SeeENGAGEPolicyArea1

4 NationalDrugsStrategy2009-201684

action 19 Developaframeworkforthefuturedesignof targeted prevention andeducationinterventions in relationtodrugsand alcohol usingatieredorgraduatedapproach

A2.1SeeMenontheMovePolicyArea7re.asnowballeffectonalcoholconsumptionA2.2SeeMen’sShedsPolicyArea8re.asnowballeffectonalcoholconsumptionA2.3SeeGAAHealthyClubPolicyArea1re.asnowballeffectonalcoholconsumptionA3.1SeeENGAGEPolicyArea1

5 steering GroupReporton a National SubstanceMisusestrategy85

PreventionPillar2 Furtherdevelopaco-ordinatedapproach to prevention andeducationinterventions in relation to alcohol and drugsasaco-operative effort betweenallstakeholders

A2.2SeeMen’sShedsPolicyArea8re.asnowballeffectonalcoholconsumptionA2.3SeeGAAHealthyClubPolicyArea1re.asnowballeffectonalcoholconsumptionA3.1SeeENGAGEPolicyArea1

Policy area



PreventionPillar5 Encouragethe provision ofalcohol-freevenueswithanemphasis on those most at risk(e.g.YouthCafes,alcoholfreemusicanddancevenuesand sports venues)

A2.3SeeGAAHealthyClubPolicyArea1A3.6SeeMen’sHealthWeekPolicyArea1

6 a Healthy Weight for Ireland:ObesityPolicy and action Plan 2016-202586

Step6:Mobilisethehealth services tobetterpreventand address overweight andobesitythrougheffectivecommunity-basedprogrammes,trainingandskillsdevelopment andthroughenhanced systems for detection and referrals of overweight and obesepatientsinprimary care

6.7:Developand integrate evidence-based,effective,community-basedhealthpromotion programmes targetedathigh-riskgroupswithinallcommunityhealth organisations

A2.1SeeMenontheMovePolicyArea7A2.2SeeMen’sShedsPolicyArea8A2.3SeeGAAHealthyClubPolicyArea1A3.1SeeENGAGEPolicyArea1

Step8:Acknowledgethekeyroleofphysical activity in the prevention of overweight and obesity

8.3:Developaspecificphysicalactivity plan to address the needs of severely overweight and obeseindividuals

A2.1SeeMenontheMovePolicyArea7A2.2SeeMen’sShedsPolicyArea8A2.3SeeGAAHealthyClubPolicyArea1

86DepartmentofHealth(2016)

83DepartmentofHealth(2013)84DepartmentofHealth(2009)85DepartmentofHealth(2012)

46 47

Policy area



7 GetIrelandActive:ANational Physical activity Plan for ireland87

ActionArea6:sport and Physical activity in the Community

A54:Strengthenand enhance the capacity of the LSPstofurtherdeveloplocally-led plans and morelong-termsustainablephysical activity programmes

A55:Continuetosupporttheworkof the National GoverningBodies of sport in implementing programmes to promote physical activity

A2.1MenontheMove[MoM]isacommunity-basedphysicalactivity[PA]programmetargetedatpreviouslyinactiveadultmen.Aspartoftheprogramme,menattendleader-ledPAsessionsweeklyaswellasone-offworkshopsonnutritionandwellbeingfromHSEstaff.Theyareprovided with a Pa and health information booklet,anIHFpedometer,andareinvitedtoparticipateina5kmeventattheendoftheprogramme.A2.2SeeMen’sShedsPolicyArea8A2.3SeeGAAHealthyClubPolicyArea1A3.1SeeENGAGEPolicyArea1

action area 7:Research,Monitoring and Evaluation

A59:Establisha research programme to inform policies aimed at improving physical activity levels in each of thetargetgroups

A2.1TheMoMprogrammeis,currently,beingevaluatedusingabiopsychosocialapproachupto52weeksfrombaseline(interventionn=490men;comparisongroupn=420men)withaviewtoinforminganationalapproachtoimplementation.Thefindingswillinformpolicyaimedat improving physical activity levels in previouslyinactiveadultmales.

8 connecting for lifeireland’s National strategy to ReduceSuicide2015-202088

Goal2 Tosupportlocalcommunities’capacity to prevent and respond tosuicidalbehaviour

A2.3SeeGAAHealthyClubPolicyArea1A3.1SeeENGAGEPolicyArea1

Policy area



8 Goal3 to target approaches to reducesuicidalbehaviourandimprove mental health among prioritygroups

A2.1SeeMenontheMovePolicyArea7re.thesocialintegrationofaprioritygroupand the positive effect on overall social and mentalwellbeingA2.2SupporttheIMSAandMen’sShedswiththeimplementationofaQualityAssuranceandOutcomesFrameworkA2.4Developnewinitiatives(e.g.withmiddle-agedmen)andsupportthewiderroll-outofexistinginitiatives(e.g.EngagingYoungMen,MojoProject)topromotepositivementalhealthandresilienceamongatriskgroupsofmenA2.6DevelopnewinitiativestargetedatTravellermen,withaparticularfocusonmentalhealthandresiliencebuildingA3.2ExpandthenumberofENGAGEUnit6Trainersandcontinuetosupportexistingtrainers to deliver training to frontline service providersA3.6SeeNationalMen’sHealthWeekArea1A3.7SeeNationalFarmSafetyPartnershiparea 1

9 Positive ageing -StartsNowthe National Positive ageing strategy89

Goal1 Remove barrierstoparticipation and provide more opportunitiesforthecontinuedinvolvement of people as they age in all aspects ofcultural,economic and social life in their communitiesaccording to theirneeds,preferences and capacities

A2.1SeeMenontheMovePolicyArea7-currentparticipantsareupto83yearsof ageA2.2SeeMen’sShedsPolicyArea8-Men’s sheds’ participants are mostly older menA2.3SeeGAAHealthyClubPolicyArea1

Goal4 Supportanduseresearchaboutpeopleas they age to betterinformpolicy responses topopulationageing in ireland

A4.2Ensurethatallmen’shealthworkisevaluatedinaccordancewithbestpracticeandthatpractitionersaresupportedtohaveevaluationbuiltintotheirpractice

87DepartmentofHealth(2016)88DepartmentofHealth(2015) 89DepartmentofHealth(2013)

48

Policy area



10 Better OutcomesBrighter Futures:TheNational Policy Frameworkforchildren and YoungPeople90

Outcome1 Childrenandyoungpeople are active and healthy with positive physical and mentalwellbeing

A2.3SeeGAAHealthyClubPolicyarea 1A3.3Facilitationskillstrainingisbeingdeliveredto8youthsectororganisationswhichinvolvesworkingintensivelywith2membersofstaff(n=8residentialdays+1day),managers(1day)andthewholestaff(1day)withaviewtoupskillingstafftodevelopself-awareness and emotional intelligence withintheyoungmenwithwhomtheywork.Thistrainingisalsothesubjectofanevaluationwithaviewtoinformingfuturetrainingtothissectorand elsewhere

Outcome5 children and youngpeopleareconnected,respectedandcontributingtotheir world

A3.2SeeENGAGEUnit6PolicyArea8A3.8Continuetotrainthoseintheyouthsector to facilitate the development of self-awarenessandemotionalintelligenceamongyoungmen

11 NationalYouthStrategy2015-202091

Outcome1 ActiveandHealthy:Physical and Mental Wellbeing

A3.3Seefacilitationskillstraining,PolicyArea10

Outcome5 Connected,Respected and ContributingtotheirWorld

A3.2SeeENGAGEUnit6PolicyArea8A3.3SeesupportyouthsectorPolicyArea10

12 NationalSexualHealth strategy 2015-202092

action 4 ExtensionofHPVvaccine to adolescent boysandpotentialat-riskgroups(e.g.MSM)tobeconsidered

A3.6Co-ordinateMHWannuallyand expand the MHW partnership network(throughitsadvocacywork,MHFItocontinuetoinformthedebatesurroundingHPVvaccinationforboys)

Actions6-12 Supporttheongoingdevelopment of sexualhealthtrainingandeducationalmaterials and resourcestargetedatparents,teachersandyouthworkers

A3.8Trainthoseintheyouthsectortofacilitatethedevelopmentofself-awareness and emotional intelligence amongyoungmen

90DepartmentofChildrenandYouthAffairs(2014)91DepartmentofChildrenandYouthAffairs(2015)92DepartmentofHealth(2015).NationalSexualHealthStrategy.HawkinsHouse

Documents

NatioNal MeN’s HealtH actioN PlaN HealtHy Ireland - Men · PDF file8 i Foreword Ireland was the firstcountry in the world to adopt a National Men’s Health Policy, and other countries