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Q4 2021 | A promotional supplement distributed on behalf of Mediaplanet, which takes sole responsibility for its content
A Mediaplanet campaign focused on
Men’s Healthcare
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“Men’s reluctance to seek help is having a catastrophic impact.” ~Jack O’Connor Country Director Ireland, Movember
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“Three in four farmers in Ireland have four or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease.” ~Janis Morrissey, Director of Health Promotion, Information and Training, Irish Heart Foundation
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Establishing better social connections to improve men’s health Globally, men die on average five years earlier than women and for reasons that are largely preventable. It doesn’t have to be that way: we can all take action to live happier, healthier and longer lives.
E Jack O’Connor Country Manager Ireland, Movember
arly on, when we first began to address men’s reluctance to seek help is having a catastrophic impact. Far health issues in 2003, we started with prostate too many men are suffering in silence and seeking help too cancer. It immediately became obvious that while late, if at all. How and why suicides happen is incredibly there was a clear need to advance medicine, it complex. was imperative to address men’s behaviour when it came to their health. Making lasting change Broadly, men are less likely to go to their What we do know is that helping men doctor than their female counterparts establish better social connections can and tend to ignore early warning signs improve their overall wellbeing and and symptoms of larger issues. When we We could no longer ignore the reduce risk of suicide. In our mission consider this in the context of a prostate fact that suicide is becoming to make lasting change and dramatically or testicular cancer diagnosis, where early reduce the rate of male suicide, a largely male issue, with detection can save your life, it’s clear why Movember funds community-based early men accounting for three in this is such a pivotal and integral piece of intervention programmes that address the puzzle. mental health through a male lens. four suicides globally, over We say that the guys who grow 500,000 men every year. Addressing mental health challenges moustaches in Movember become This lack of help seeking behaviour walking, talking billboards for men’s reaches far beyond cancer. As the world’s leading men’s health. They help us to open up the conversation around health organisation, we could no longer ignore the fact our mental and physical health and help us to have a that suicide is becoming a largely male issue, with men real and lasting impact by instigating a cultural shift accounting for three in four suicides globally, over 500,000 where men are more conscious of, take ownership of men every year. and, most importantly, take action when it comes to Mental health and suicide prevention are an incredibly their health. nuanced area to address, however, it’s clear that men’s
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Changing the narrative for supporting men’s mental health According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), there were 340 deaths by suicide in Ireland in 20201. Of these, 259 were male, with the highest number in the 45-54 age group.
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hile the number of deaths by suicide have fallen over the past five years, the situation is still regarded as a mental health crisis. Each and every suicide has a devastating effect on families, friends and whole communities.
Caroline Lafferty CEO, Cycle Against Suicide
Paid for by Cycle Against Suicide
Tackling the stigma We have all heard the word ‘stigma’ when it comes to mental health issues. This simple, six letter word has proven to be a barrier to those seeking help with a mental health problem for a number of years. Men were particularly hesitant when it came to opening up and asking for help with issues such as anxiety or depression, in fear of being considered ‘weak’.
We have all heard the word ‘stigma’ when it comes to mental health issues. This simple, six letter word has proven to be a barrier to those seeking help with a mental health problem for a number of years. Seeking help and support But Cycle Against Suicide can help. Its anti-stigma message ‘It’s OK not to be OK, and it’s absolutely OK to ask for help’ encourages those people to reach out and seek support when it comes to mental health issues. This message has resonated amongst thousands of individuals
suffering from mental health challenges, resulting in a more open dialogue and willingness to come forward to seek help. Making changes right for you Cycle Against Suicide launched it’s Peer Support ‘Buddy’ programme earlier this year. Peer Support has the transformative power of inspiring hope in people who suffer from mental health challenges and is rooted in the knowledge that hope is the starting point from which a journey of recovery must begin. When experiences are shared in Peer Support, combined knowledge and experiences are used to move forward by making positive changes which may be big or small depending on whatever feels right for the individual. The current challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a new set of mental health challenges such as coping with loneliness, anxiety and hopelessness. A nationally representative survey carried out by Amárach Research2 on behalf of Saint Patrick’s Mental Health Services reported a 6% increase since 2020 and 16% increase since 2019 in the number of people receiving mental healthcare. Cycle Against Suicide aims to create a society where there is no longer a stigma around suicide and mental health and encourages those with a mental health issue to speak up without fear. If you are in need of support and wish to talk with a Cycle Against Suicide Buddy, full details are available at: cycleagainstsuicide.com/community-buddy
References 1. CSO Suicide statistics briefing, 16th 2. Sample poll was conducted between June 30th and July 7th 2021.
Broadly, men are less likely to go to their doctor than their female counterparts and tend to ignore early warning signs and symptoms of larger issues. ~Jack O’Connor Country Manager Ireland, Movember
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Every small step you take to improve your heart health adds up One in four men in Ireland die from heart disease and stroke and men are nearly three times more likely than women to die young from these issues.
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Janis Morrissey Director of Health Promotion, Information and Training, Irish Heart Foundation
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he good news is that 80% of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable. There are many actions that men can take to reduce their risk including stopping smoking, eating a healthy diet and being physically active. It is often thought that men don’t engage in health services, but our experience in the Irish Heart Foundation is that with a person-centred and tailored approach, men do take part in programmes.
a range of partners including the National Centre for Men’s Health Research to develop a health behaviour change programme to improve farmers’ heart health.
Taking stock of your lifestyle Our recent Reboot national awareness campaign called on men to sign up to take stock of and reboot their lifestyles by identifying what simple changes they can make now to benefit their heart health into the future. Designing health programmes for men One of the key campaign messages was We work in partnership with many that every small step you take to improve national and local stakeholders including your heart health adds up. No matter No matter what area the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, what area of lifestyle you wish to address, of lifestyle you wish to Pavee Point, the HSE and the Men’s getting into the right frame of mind is Development Network to design and for change. You need to feel address, getting into the essential deliver relevant, innovative approaches to ready and have clear reasons for making right frame of mind is men’s health. the change. Our ground-breaking ‘Farmers Have To prepare, it can be helpful to ask essential for change Hearts’ programme takes a targeted such questions as: ‘How important is approach given that research has shown my heart health to me? What barriers that three in four farmers in Ireland have four or more risk have kept me from making changes in the past? How factors for cardiovascular disease. important is this change to me? and How confident The programme engages with farmers in their do I feel that I can make it?’ workplace. It aims to identify farmers cardiovascular risk, encourage them to make positive lifestyle changes and refer those at high risk to their GP. We are working with
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Men can find lots of helpful tips and information at irishheart.ie If you have any questions about your heart health you can call our Nurse Support Line on 01 6685001
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Making lifestyle changes to help manage atrial fibrillation What is atrial fibrillation? Atrial fibrillation or AF is the name for a particular type of irregular heartbeat. An irregular heartbeat is often called an arrhythmia. With AF your heart beats in a disorganised and irregular way which can lead to a range of symptoms and potential complications. What are the symptoms of AF? Some people have no symptoms of AF and are only diagnosed at a routine check- up with their doctor. Other people feel their irregular heartbeat straight away through a range of symptoms such as:
• Palpitations • Tiredness or weakness • Difficulty exercising • Dizziness, light-headedness or fainting • Chest pain • Discomfort or difficulty breathing • Shortness of breath What are the treatments for AF? There are several medicine and non-medicinal options available to help manage your AF. There are two main strategies to control your irregular heartbeat: rate control or rhythm control. Some people may also be prescribed anti-thrombotic medication known as blood thinners. Ask your doctor if you would like more information.
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Can I make any lifestyle changes that may help with my AF?
• Be active. Check with your doctor or nurse what a safe and reasonable level of activity or exercise is before you start. • Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice on what types of food to eat. You should do this especially if you take anticoagulant tablets by mouth, as some food and drink can affect the way your tablets work. • Avoid stimulants such as caffeine, like in coffee, alcohol and nicotine from smoking. These can trigger an irregular heart rate. • Have your blood pressure and cholesterol monitored regularly and keep them under control. • Reduce stress and find ways to manage or control any stress you cannot avoid. • Go for regular check-ups. They will help you maintain your quality of life. This article’s content is taken from the Irish Heart Foundation Live Well With Atrial Fibrillation Patient Information Booklet https://irishheart.ie/wp-content/ uploads/2018/11/Atrial-Fibrillation_Leaflet_J.pdf
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Five ways to improve your mental wellbeing In a world where many are still grappling with the difference between sex versus gender, men’s mental health is a hot topic, particularly around masculinity and mental health.
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he key issues that impact a man’s mental health are around perception and connection. Men are plagued by how they are ‘’supposed’’ to act, look and feel. They are far less likely to seek advice and support, be that friendly or formal and these attribute to the stark reality that men are three times more likely to die from suicide than women. In Ireland 437 people died by suicide in 2018 - 327 men (75%) and 110 women (25%). The male suicide rate was 14.3 per 100,000 at the time, compared to the female suicide rate of 4.6 per 100,000. Promoting importance of mental health support Equally, a lot has improved in recent years as there were 340 recorded suicides last year – a rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people, which is a significant decrease on previous years. Initiatives such as Men’s Sheds and the Men’s Mental Health forum, both fantastic initiatives, have been advocating for men and tirelessly working towards better mental health for all. Mental health promotion is more valuable than ever to help young men from an early age to learn about protecting and improving their mental health. One of Mental Health Ireland’s programmes to support education is the Five Ways to Wellbeing, which are proven to improve and maintain positive mental health: 1. Connect with others 2. Keep learning 3. Take notice 4. Give to others 5. Be active Maintaining a healthy diet, connecting with others and being active are of high value. It is proven that men involved with sports, clubs and groups are less likely to suffer mental health challenges. Mental health is something everyone has, it is volatile for both men and women and its state depends heavily on internal and external factors for each individual. We advise those with mental health challenges to first seek help with their GP, look into local supports in your area and look at ways to manage and maintain good mental health using the five ways to wellbeing model.
Carmen Bryce Communications Lead, Mental Health Ireland
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Increasing awareness of clinical trials to improve participation International collaboration is key to providing cancer trials options in Ireland.
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ne of the few positives of the pandemic is the increase in public understanding – and support – of clinical trials. Research Cancer Trials Ireland undertook at the end of 2020 showed that one in two Irish people (48%) were willing to take part in a clinical trial. That is certainly encouraging, but trials remain subject to the highest standards of ethics, regulation, design and – critically – statistical analysis. Balancing these factors, doctorscientists (‘investigators’ as we are known within the trials community) have to ensure that enough people take part in a trial to produce a statistically robust result, or in other words, an answer we can trust. But like in so many other areas of Irish life and industry, we lack the population size to execute trials in isolation from the rest of world. So, we do what we always do – we collaborate with other countries. International collaboration This is true of an international prostate cancer clinical trial that I work on with colleagues all over the world (NZ, Australia, UK, and soon USA and Canada). In simple terms, we’re working together to see if the existing optimum treatment (known as ‘standard of care’) for high-risk localised prostate cancer can be improved by adding a hormonal agent. The ‘high-risk’ here refers to the possibility of the cancer ‘moving’ (metastasizing) to other parts of the body. In about one in seven cases (15%) of this high-risk prostate cancer, the disease does move to other areas of the body and become incurable. The DASL trial is trying to ascertain if the introduction of a new, additional hormonal agent can bring that 15% figure down.
Concerned about symptoms? Prostate cancer is a common form of cancer that affects one in seven men in Ireland in their lifetime. Eligibility criteria Another big plus for this trial is its relatively broad eligibility. Ordinarily, in any trial, you are trying to remove as many variables as possible. That means you have tightly defined criteria for any patient to take part in the trial. Unusually, this trial is open to patients who are being treated with radiotherapy after surgery – and also patients being treated with radiotherapy who have not had surgery. Concerned about symptoms? Prostate cancer is a common form of cancer that affects one in seven men in Ireland in their lifetime. Unlike other forms of cancer (breast and lung), screening is less cut and dried, but if you think you are experiencing symptoms, go to the Irish Cancer Society website and take the prostate health quiz. Thereafter, talk to your GP about PSA testing.
Professor Ray McDermott Clinical Lead, Cancer Trials Ireland
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How to live your life free from worries of urinary incontinence It is estimated that approximately 350,000 people over the age of 40 are affected by bladder weakness in Ireland, with about 10% of men suffering from some form of urinary incontinence.
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atients, in particular men, do not often discuss urinary incontinence or seek out advice from their healthcare professional. In pharmacy, we offer an informal and approachable environment and we are freely available to discreetly discuss options to help improve the condition and its symptoms.
Mark Jordan Pharmacist and Member, Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (MPSI)
Paid for by TENA
Lifestyle products for daily management When using lifestyle interventions, It is important to find the right product for you and your needs. Your pharmacist can help here, but as the patient is the centre of their care I like to ensure that they are educated in all aspects of their health. One product that can help is using Tena Men. Seeking advice and support The most important feature is the depth Causes of urinary incontinence in men of the pad, as this will determine how The important message well the product meets their individual may vary but they can include illnesses such as diabetes or an enlarged prostate. needs. Each pack of Tena Men contains a for patients who suffer Because of this, it’s important to consult guidance level on the outside of the pack, from urinary leakage your doctor or pharmacist if you notice which ranges from light to medium and any new symptoms. high absorbency based on the number of of any sort is to speak It may not always be necessary to use The less drips, the less absorbent with your pharmacist or drips. medications to treat urinary leakage. and the more drips, the higher the healthcare professional absorption. Lifestyle measures such as spacing your fluid intake, restricting your caffeine Once you have chosen the correct level, to find the best support you or alcohol intake and use of lifestyle can rest assured as the individually for you. products can give control, confidence wrapped, high absorbency core which and independence back to your day. is dermatologically tested and equipped The important message for patients who suffer with unique odour control will ensure a comfortable fit from urinary leakage of any sort is to speak with your enabling you to live full and free. pharmacist or healthcare professional to find the best support for you.
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Find out more at tena.ie
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Mental health promotion is more valuable than ever to help young men from an early age to learn about protecting and improving their mental health. ~Carmen Bryce, Communications Lead, Mental Health Ireland
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