Men’s health on the island of Ireland is unnecessarily poor, but it is not a lost cause.  There are many free, simple and practical things that can be done to improve it.  But what are these?

To support Men’s Health Week in 2022, a team of students from the Game Design Degree Course in Technological University Dublin developed a ‘Serious Game’ - focusing on male health - that men and boys can play online. You have another chance to play it again this year.

In this retro-style arcade game, the player is invited to take on the character of ‘Agent Mann’ - a spy who is given the mission of tracking down and securing a series of dossiers containing high level ‘Intel’ on how to improve men’s health.

To succeed in his quest, Agent Mann has to navigate through various settings to locate and collect all of the dossiers.  Along the way, he has to learn how to move around in his environment and to use some of the gadgets available to him.  But of course, danger is never far away, and his path is blocked by the henchmen of his nemesis [Mr O’Bese] who try to prevent him from uncovering this vital information.

Why not be a superhero yourself and …

1. Take on the role of Agent Mann.
2. Find and secure all of the seven dossiers.
3. Memorise what’s in them.
4. Use this information to improve the health of men both now and in the future.

Try it out at: https://mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2025.html#AgentMann

We’re now only days away from International Men's Health Week (MHW), which begins on Monday 9th June and runs until Sunday 15th June 2025 (Father’s Day).

When males play sport together, or work on a communal task, we know what is meant by men standing ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’.  They are unified, strong, resolute, focused, supportive and connected. They give 100% and do the best job that they can.  

During Men's Health Week 2025, everyone is being asked to put these positive traits into action, to connect for health, and to work together to support the health of men and boys on the island of Ireland.

‘Connecting for Health’ is about: policy makers ensuring that men have the resources to live long and healthy lives; service providers offering appropriate tools, advice and support to males; men taking small practical steps to improve their own health; everyone looking out for and after each other ...

During Men's Health Week 2025, everyone is being asked to set themselves simple, realistic and practical tasks to make positive changes to the health of men and boys.

The focus for MHW this year - ‘Shoulder-to-Shoulder’ - lends itself to a wide range of ways to mark this occasion.  Everyone (health professionals, service providers, youth groups, sporting bodies, community organisations, employers, Churches, policy makers, family workers, pharmacists, the media, parents, individuals ...) is being asked to set themselves a simple, realistic and practical target to improve the health of men, and to go for it.

As always, the overarching aims of MHW are to:

• -  Heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages.
• -  Support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices and activities.
• -  Encourage the early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males.

However, you don’t have to stick rigidly to this particular theme.  Anything which promotes the week and encourages men and boys to lead healthier lifestyles, to be more aware of preventable health problems, and to seek early detection and treatment for health difficulties will be very welcome.

To find out more about the week, visit: www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2025.html

You are invited to attend a webinar to mark the beginning of Men’s Health Week (MHW) 2025.  This webinar will take place on Monday 9th June 2025 at Noon, and will have an ISL interpreter present.

The theme for this year's MHW is 'Shoulder to Shoulder - Connecting for Health'.  It will focus upon the importance of connectivity and helping / supporting each other - reminding everyone about the importance of not going it alone, that there are supports available, and that it is important to take action.

Webinar Guests will include:

-  Bernard Jackman: Former Irish International and Leinster rugby player, coach and sports commentator
-  Michael Darragh Macauley: Former Dublin GAA Senior Football player, GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year and CEO of Sanctuary Runners
-  Sean Blake: Man living with anorexia who featured in the RTE documentary 'Anorexia, My Family and Me'
-  Joe Grogan: BowelScreen champion

 To register for a place, visit: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XkmyffvTS4e5TfeNjQcGew

The Southern Area Men's Health Steering Group invites you to apply for a place at their annual Men’s Health Seminar.  This year's event will focus upon ‘Strong Foundations - Healthy Relationships Matter’, and will take place on the morning of Thursday 13th March 2025, in Lough Neagh Discovery Centre at Oxford Island, Craigavon, Co. Armagh.  It will focus upon father-child relationships in the early years, young men's relationships, when relationships go wrong for men, and how to maintain relationships and connections in later life.  Plus, there will be fun interactive activities, and free refreshments and lunch!  If you are interested in registering or finding out more, email Donna Salt at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Believe it or not, it’s that time again.  Yes, it’s time to get the most important date of the year into your new 2025 diary …  International Men's Health Week (MHW) always begins on the Monday before Father's Day and ends on Father's Day itself.  This coming year, it will run from Monday 9th until Sunday 15th June 2025.

Every year, the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) convenes an all-island Planning Group for MHW.  Would you be interested in being a part of this process, and joining with others from across the island of Ireland to help to shape MHW 2025?  This can be done in many ways - from participating in meetings, to occasional electronic communication.  All input is very welcome, and helps to make the week stronger and more relevant.

If you would be interested in being part of the planning process for 2025 (in any way), email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

However, even if this is not possible, why not put the dates of MHW 2025 into your new diary, and start thinking about how your group / workplace / church / community / sports club ...  could do something to mark this week?  It’s never too early to start planning.

Did you know that Ireland was the first country in the world to develop and adopt a National Men's Health Policy?  Did you also know that they then followed this up with a National Men's Health Action Plan (called 'Healthy Ireland - Men')?  Well, that's not the end of the story ...  The Health Service Executive, working in partnership with the Men's Health Forum in Ireland, Men's Development Network and the National Centre for Men's Health in SETU, hosted a webinar to launch the Second National Men's Health Action Plan: Healthy Ireland - Men [HI-M] 2024-2028.  This event took place on Monday 18th November 2024 and you can view the recording of proceedings at: https://youtu.be/1pX5Cxvvadw  You can also download a copy of the HI-M Action Plan at: www.mhfi.org/HIM2.pdf or explore some of the key achievements of the Policy and Action Plan at: https://youtu.be/DWKuVXtLrWE

Have you seen the ARK Policy Brief focusing upon 'The Mental Health of Young People in Northern Ireland'? ...  If not, you might like to have a look at it: https://www.ark.ac.uk/ARK/sites/default/files/2024-09/policybrief32.pdf

The Healthy Ireland Survey is conducted annually with a representative sample of the population aged 15 and older living in the Republic of Ireland.  The data is used to underpin policy development and implementation, to monitor, measure and evaluate progress in implementing various elements of the Healthy Ireland Framework, as well as to meet many international reporting obligations, including to the OECD, the EU and the WHO.  For the 2024 Survey, a representative sample of 7,398 people, aged 15 and older and living in Ireland, were interviewed between October 2023 and April 2024.  See the findings and download the report at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/d1ab3-healthy-ireland-survey-2024