Men's Health Week. Make it count.
Men are dying too young and largely from preventable causes. This Men's Health Week, we're asking men, fathers and the people who love them to take one step. Because looking after yourself means more time with the people who matter most.
The evidence is clear
Fatherhood and mental health
Around 1 in 10 fathers experience postnatal depression, yet most are never asked about their mental health.
Routine mental health screening for new fathers, a workforce equipped to engage them, and community programs that tackle isolation and build peer connection are some of the ways Movember are seeking to ensure men are supported.
Men engage, when they feel understood
Of men who access mental health services, 45% drop out - 27% after just one session. The reasons are complex, but the direction is clear. Ensuring health systems are equipped to meet men where they are, with professionals who understand men's mental health and the surrounding cultural pressures, are fundamental in shaping better health outcomes.
Checking in with men, matters
Every minute of every day, a man dies by suicide. 4 out of 5 suicides are by men. Men can take action by building and maintaining social connections. Nurturing friendships, joining community or interest‑based groups, and building check-in practices with family, friends and peers are just some of the ways men can support each other. Checking in matters more than ever.
Men need extra time
Did you know?
- Ireland is fifth-from-bottom of the EU table when it comes to support for new fathers. And on the government rate, they lose around three-quarters of their weekly income just to be there.
- 1 in 5 dads in Ireland took no paternity leave at all when their baby was born, 67% experienced financial strain as a result of taking leave, 50% felt taking more would put their career at risk and 68% relied on employer support or top-ups just to make it work.
- This isn't just a policy problem. It's a health one. 1 in 4 dads in Ireland rate their mental health as fair or poor. 3 in 5 believe society doesn't take fathers' mental health seriously.
- But when dads do get the time: 85% say it supported their partner's physical and mental recovery. 82% say it boosted their confidence as a parent.
- Dads in Ireland are already showing up differently. 79% are more involved in day-to-day care than their own father was, and 90% say fatherhood has given their life greater meaning.
Paternity leave isn’t just a nice-to-have. It means dads get crucial opportunities to bond with their newborns. Children grow up with present and engaged fathers and are less likely to develop emotional and behavioural problems. And parenting duties are shared between parents. This Men’s Health Week, be a part of the call for greater paternity leave.
Download the Extra Time with Dad report. Share it with your community and be part of the solution.
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