This year, Men’s Health Week takes place from Monday 10 June and ends on Father’s Day 16 June 2019. This is a week to celebrate men and to acknowledge that men’s health matters. This year, everyone is asked to “make the time and take the time” to do something realistic and practical that will have a positive impact on both their own health and the health of the men and boys in their lives.

Not too long ago, society was largely unaware of the full extent of the poor health status among men in Ireland and the specific health issues men face. However, awareness around these issues is now greatly heightened. In recent years, a broad range of research has highlighted the challenges that men in Ireland face. Males constitute almost 50% of the population, but our men experience a disproportionate burden of ill health and die, on average, up to four years younger than women.

Men themselves can play a central role in taking control of their health and wellbeing, but men’s health is not just an individual issue. Health can often be determined by factors outside of men’s individual control and there is a need for society to recognise the role that they need to play in positively contributing to men’s health. For this year’s Men’s Health Week, everyone can get involved to encourage men and boys to take better care of their health and to seek help or treatment at an early stage.

Men’s Health Week is an opportunity to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and to support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices and activities. It also encourages the early detection and treatment of health difficulties, ailments and conditions. All of this requires dedication, time and, this week, all citizens are challenged to do something – big or small – that will make a positive difference to their health and the health of the men and boys in their lives.

Much can be done to improve the health of men and the setting up of a Men’s Shed is helping by providing men with a health-enhancing, supportive environment for its members. Four hundred and fifty men’s sheds around the country are providing men with the opportunity to improve and maintain their wellbeing on a weekly basis. Sheds in Waterford and Kildare this spring took a pioneering step towards placing the health of their members as a key priority when they participated in the roll-out of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association’s (IMSA) 10-week Sheds for Life programme.

The programme saw sheds participate in health checks, physical activity programmes, Healthy Food Made Easy, Minding your Mental Health workshops, digital literacy classes, CPR and dental health programmes, as well as a host of preventative talks on diabetes, cancer and suicide – all within the familiar environment of their local shed.

Congratulations are due to the sheds of Maynooth, Leixlip, Naas, Na Fianna Allenwood, Cooleragh Staplestown, Clane, Kilcock and Kill & District, as well as Déise, Waterford, Dungarvan and Waterford Estuary men’s sheds for completing the programme. The next group of pioneering sheds embarking in Sheds for Life are sheds in Co Limerick and Louth this autumn.

Don’t forget to check out what your local shed or community can do to mark Men’s Health Week by visiting www.mhfi.ie, and keep visiting the IMSA’s www.malehehealth.ie site which offers advice, support, resources and events from over 50 of Ireland’s leading health organisations.

Men’s Health Week is supported by the Health Service Executive, Healthy Ireland, the Public Health Authority and the Men’s Health Forum Ireland.

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