The Irish Pharmacy Podcast

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 Ireland

• Order a FREE HSE STI kit here!
• BowelScreen Info and kit ordering here!
• The Real face of Men's Health Report available here!

00:00 Welcome and Guests

01:25 Why Mens Health Matters

04:34 Masculinity in Modern Ireland

08:53 Isolation and Social Change

10:51 Why Men Avoid the GP

17:09 Reaching Hard to Reach Men

23:48 Pharmacy and Community Solutions

25:57 Fear Confidentiality and Culture

29:15 Schools and Health Literacy

32:27 Online Trends and Looksmaxing

33:16 Wish List and Practical Advice

34:51 Screening Takeaways and Wrap Up