Men's attitude to taking care of themselves may be changing but that change is slow and still marred by traditional and macho views of their role in society, writes Joe Armstrong.
This week is the Irish Cancer Society Men's Cancer Action Week. More than 6,000 men in Ireland are diagnosed with prostate, colo-rectal (bowel), lung, skin and testicular each year. But have men's attitudes to their health changed? Are they changing? What are the areas of primary concern? And what habits do men have which hold them back from enjoying great health of mind, body and spirit?
Lorcan Brennan, who works with the Men's Development Network based in Waterford, believes we ae only starting to see a change in men's attitudes.
"There are so many different types of men, with different backgrounds and masculinities. It's a really big question."
The Men's Development Network engages with men from disadvantaged backgrounds. "If trapped in poverty, you're trapped in ill-health," he says, citing a recent study confirming this.
Health is a very big player in the lives of the men he works with and their families. For example, several have respiratory illnesses, associated with smoking, and some have a poor diet.
He sees the macho culture as a real challenge in getting men to be pro-active about their health.
In the past we had a clear sense of the respective roles of men and women. "We'd fixed, defined roles. But with our new understanding of psychology we're looking at masculinities now rather than masculinity," he says.
The World Health Organisation defines health as physical, mental and spiritual. Noting that men normally come in contact with the health services only when ill-health strikes, he believes we need to be more pro-active in helping men in turn to be pro-active about their health.
We need to create space where men can talk about the issues that come up in their life. The big question men need to ask, he suggests, is "how can I be fully alive?"
Bairbre NicGhabhann is project co-ordinator of the men's education initiative at Mevagh education centre, Downings, Co Donegal. She believes men are a lot more interested in their health than before. They run an annual men's health day which is very popular.
She believes that generally in rural communities men can be reluctant to say whatever is on their mind to local doctors. For instance, men can feel embarrassed talking about frequent urination or prostate examinations.
The centre holds events for men such a recent slide show and creates an informal, safe place for older men who would normally meet only in a pub setting to talk about matters of concern for them.
She sees men's isolation, depression and the inappropriate use of alcohol as crucial issues that need to be addressed in rural Ireland.
She points to the recent report A Portrait of our Drinking issued June 2004 which indicated the extent of the misuse of alcohol and drinking habits. She notes too that isolated, disadvantaged men are least likely to push for their own health needs. "They don't have anybody advocating for them, say if they are on a list for a hip replacement," says NicGhabhann.
Noel Bradley who is an outreach worker of the men's education initiative is less optimistic about men's attitudes changing. "I don't have a sense that men are look after themselves better."
He cites the experience of men who are "out of work, underemployed, separated, not married or are back from England after many years and they drink," he says.
"A lot of men stick in that pattern. They've poor health, psychologically and emotionally."
Often men just don't like going to doctors, he says. Some won't follow their doctor's instructions, even by taking medication after by-pass surgery. They're horrified by examinations and feel relieved when you tell them how common they are for men.
Noel Richardson is chairperson of the Men's Health Forum, a voluntary advocacy group in the process of registering as a charity.
His doctoral sociological research on men, looking at the gender of men's health, will be launched at a major conference on men's health which takes place on December 1st and 2nd at the Ferrycarrig Hotel, Wexford. He indicated that it will argue that men see preventative health as effeminate. Taking risks with one's health is seen as okay for men. The study will explore how men look at masculinities and hence explore the underlying issues behind men's health.
Speakers at the conference include Prof Tom O'Dowd, professor of general practice at TCD; Prof Siegfried Meryn from Vienna, who is president of the International Society for Men's Health; Prof Alan White, of Leeds University, who is the world's first professor of men's health; author broadcaster, and men's health campaigner Dr Ian Banks; and Alan O'Neill, director of the Men's Development Network, Waterford.
Joe Armstrong is author of Men's Health - the Common Sense Approach