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The Irish Pharmacy Podcast
Men’s Health in Ireland
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!
Timeline
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
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2. Unmasking Misinformation: Navigating Truth in a Clickbait World
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Introducing The Irish Pharmacy Podcast
00:58|Introducing The Irish Pharmacy Podcast: Real Health Talk, No JargonSheena introduces the Irish Pharmacy Podcast, brought to you by Vital Pharmacies a monthly show that breaks down the health stories behind the headlines in a way that makes sense. Each episode features friendly, honest conversations about the topics everyone’s talking about—new trends, common wellness questions, and the things people end up Googling late at night—without jargon or lectures. The podcast aims to help listeners and their families feel more informed about their health and get the real facts on the issues they’ve been wondering about. New episodes release monthly, and listeners are invited to follow wherever they get their podcasts.00:00 Welcome and Purpose00:09 Meet Sheena00:15 What to Expect00:31 No Jargon Promise00:41 Join the Conversation00:49 Monthly Episodes00:53 Follow and SubscribeFind Vital Pharmacies on Instagram!Host - Sheena Mitchell