The Irish Pharmacy Podcast

Men’s Health in Ireland: Why Men Don’t Show Up (and How We Can Change That) On the Irish Pharmacy Podcast, brought to you by the Vital Pharmacies Group, host Sheena is joined by Dr. Noel Richardson (Men’s Health Forum in Ireland, National Centre for Men’s Health at Southeast Technological University, and HSE men’s health policy advisor) and Dr. Maura Finn (GP at Ennis Medical) to discuss men’s health, masculinity, and help-seeking in Ireland. They highlight stark inequalities, including higher premature male mortality (especially in deprived areas) and preventable risk factors such as alcohol, tobacco/drug use, obesity, low physical activity, risk-taking, and low engagement with services. Richardson describes masculinity as shaped by social determinants, rapid cultural/technological change, and pandemic-driven isolation among young men, and stresses community and workplace outreach programs like Men on the Move and Farmers Have Hearts. Finn explains why women typically build earlier healthcare relationships, while men often present late due to fear and lack of connection, and notes gaps in referral pathways and talk-therapy supports. They emphasize the role of community pharmacy, school-based health literacy (including SPHE), supporting fatherhood, staying connected, and improving bowel screening uptake. This episode was brought to you by Vital Pharmacies IrelandUseful linksOrder a FREE HSE STI kit here!BowelScreen Info and kit ordering here!The Real face of Men's Health Report available here! Timeline00:00 Welcome and Guests01:25 Why Mens Health Matters04:34 Masculinity in Modern Ireland08:53 Isolation and Social Change10:51 Why Men Avoid the GP17:09 Reaching Hard to Reach Men23:48 Pharmacy and Community Solutions25:57 Fear Confidentiality and Culture29:15 Schools and Health Literacy32:27 Online Trends and Looksmaxing33:16 Wish List and Practical Advice34:51 Screening Takeaways and Wrap Up