South East Technological University (SETU) is proud to announce that two of its leading researchers, Dr Noel Richardson and Dr Aisling McGrath, are co-authors of The Real Face of Men’s Health report, launched today by Movember.
The report reveals a concerning picture of men’s health in Ireland. Two in five (40.2%) men die prematurely — before the age of 75 — and men are 40% more likely than women to die early across all five leading causes of death. Health inequalities are stark, with men in deprived areas 150% more likely to die prematurely than those in more affluent areas. The five leading causes of years of life lost among men — coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and suicide — cost Ireland over €1 billion in 2023 alone, with €716 million of these costs deemed preventable.
Dr Richardson co-authored the report alongside colleagues from Movember and the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland. His chapter, Being a Man in Ireland Today – Masculinity and Changing Roles, explores how cultural change, economic pressures and shifting expectations of masculinity are shaping men’s health decisions and outcomes.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Richardson said, “This landmark report sheds considerable light on the state of men’s health in Ireland today and the range of factors that shape health outcomes in men. The depth and breadth of data will be an important resource for policymakers and practitioners in the years ahead. It makes a compelling case that men’s health matters, and that improving men’s health benefits not just men, but has important ripple effects for women’s and children’s health and for wider communities.”
Dr Aisling McGrath, researcher and lecturer in Public Health and Health Promotion at SETU’s School of Health Sciences, also co-authored the report. Her research focuses on strategies to engage socially disadvantaged groups to enhance health and wellbeing outcomes, with a particular emphasis on gender-specific health promotion. Dr McGrath brings expertise in mixed methods, economic evaluation, participatory research, co-design and implementation science to the report, helping ensure that policy recommendations are grounded in inclusive, evidence-based approaches.
This report highlights the importance of gender-specific and inclusive strategies to reach men where they are, particularly those who face the greatest disadvantages."
Dr Aisling McGrath
SETU Vice President for Research, Innovation and Impact, Prof Marie Claire Van Hout, congratulated both researchers by saying, “This report highlights the critical importance of research-led evidence in shaping national policy and practice. Dr Richardson and Dr McGrath's work at SETU exemplifies how academic expertise can deliver real societal impact, not only in Ireland but internationally.”
The report calls on the Government to progress the National Men’s Action Plan 2024–2028, with an initial €10 million investment and cross-government support, ensuring the needs of men’s health are met in a coordinated and sustained way.
To read the full report, please visit the Movember website.