As a member of the Southern Health Board, I put forward a motion last week proposing an increased need to promote men's health issues in a manner similar to the way issues relating specifically to women's health have been highlighted in recent publications, such as A Plan for Women's Health.
It was pointed out to me and I agreed with the point that this is a nationwide issue as well as one that is relevant to the Southern Health Board. I ask the Minister to ensure a clear strategy is formulated aimed at educating men on the health risks they are likely to face throughout their lives. Such a strategy may necessitate significant funding, research and targeting to maximise its effectiveness in highlighting male health issues to the common man but it is very necessary.
I was astonished by the response I received to my motion, particularly from the medical profession. I received letter after letter and a number of telephone calls informing me that a drive to raise awareness of the many health threats facing men is long overdue. I accept there are a number of strategies in place to promote healthier living and diet for everybody, and I commend the Minister on his stance on the anti-smoking campaign. However, there are certain health risks and threats that are specific to men and because of our physical make up and the pressures of today's society we must face them. The same applies to women. To address that, women's groups have focused people's minds effectively on issues that affect them.
In the short time available I cannot go through all male health problems in detail nor am I not medically qualified to do so. I would like to point out a number of obvious and not so obvious areas where we do not seem to take men's health seriously. In the area of cancer, testicular and prostrate cancers are the cause of a significant percentage of male cancer deaths each year in Ireland, yet men, by and large, do not even know what to look for or would not dream of having a check up to catch this killer disease in its infancy when it can be dealt with easily. That attitude can be compared to that of women, many of whom go to their local GP on a routine basis for a screen test for breast cancer or a smear test.
The area of heart disease is one that is almost solely relevant to men. Men must be made more aware of high cholesterol levels in diet that can lead to heart problems. A stroke is another risk area that tends to affect more men than women. Why is that the case and why are we not warning men of that?
Depression, pressures and emotional problems affect young men and women. However, both sexes express their difficulties in different ways. I understand that eight or nine out of every ten young people who tragically decide to take their own lives are young men. For many, this is a cry for help that just got out of control, but suicide is becoming more and more common in our prosperous, new, fast-moving society.
Young men are more likely to participate in risk taking behaviour such as drug and substance abuse in many cases with tragic consequences. I was not aware until recently that eating disorders are far from exclusive to girls and young women. A doctor has tried to convince me that they are as common for boys as they are for girls. Yet I am not aware of any programme in boys' schools to deal with this problem.
I do not want to over-dramatise this point. I think the Minister of State is getting the message. The reason for the lack of publicity around men's health issues is straightforward. Men hate to talk about their health or issues they consider private because of the semi-macho barrier. Men certainly do not view the doctor as someone they should visit often unless they are at death's door. I consider myself a typical example of someone who has not been to a GP for years and I would certainly not consider going for a mere check up.
In the UK, interestingly, 40% of men said that they would not attend their GP unless instructed to do so by their partner. This figure speaks for itself and the number might be even higher in Ireland. Women live an average of ten to 15 years longer than their male counterparts in modern Ireland. We should ask why that is the case and decide on the action we should take.
I appeal to the Minister to take this motion seriously and to instruct a person or a team in his Department to undertake a national study and promote a campaign to change men's old fashioned attitudes towards their health.
