Create safe spaces to tackle men's health at work with Movember

Movember's mission is to change the face of men’s health. The organisation's newly launched report, The Real Face of Men’s Health, reveals how urgent that mission has become in Ireland.

The report has found that two in five men (40%) in Ireland die prematurely – before the age of 75. That makes men 40% more likely than women to die early across every one of the top five causes: coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and suicide. These are not distant, abstract statistics – they are colleagues, friends, brothers, fathers, and sons. And the stark reality is that the vast majority of these deaths are preventable.

The report also highlights the barriers stopping men from seeking help. Almost every GP in Ireland reported seeing men presenting with suicidal behaviour in the past year, yet only 14% of GPs felt “very confident” in supporting them. Stigma, social expectations around “toughing it out,” and fears about career impact remain powerful obstacles. For too many men, silence is the default response to physical or mental health concerns.

And the impact extends far beyond the individual. Poor men’s health ripples into families, workplaces, and the wider economy. Six in ten carers of men reported their own mental health declining, while new research estimates that preventable ill-health among men cost Ireland over €716 million in 2023 alone. This includes both direct healthcare costs and indirect losses such as reduced productivity, absenteeism, and lower earnings. For employers, this is not only a health issue – it is a workforce and productivity issue.

What workplaces can do
Workplaces are uniquely positioned to be part of the solution. Employers can create the supportive environments where men feel safe to speak openly, access help early, and take preventative action. Small cultural shifts – like normalising conversations about mental health can have a transformative effect.

Movember knows from two decades of experience that when workplaces get involved, change happens. Our campaigns don’t just raise vital funds for research and services – they spark conversations that break stigma and connect colleagues. The moustache is a powerful symbol at the beginning, but the real impact is in the awareness, dialogue, and action that follows.

A call to employers
This year, Movember is calling on employer organisations to be part of the solution. Signing up your workplace to Movember means:

• Raising awareness – empowering your employees to recognise and act on health concerns.
• Starting life-saving conversations – helping break the silence around men’s mental and physical health.
• Building connection – creating inclusive, supportive workplace cultures.
• Funding solutions – supporting Movember’s groundbreaking research, community services, and advocacy in Ireland.

Whether it’s hosting a “Move for Movember” challenge, encouraging your colleagues to grow a Mo, or running a workplace wellbeing initiative, your participation will directly contribute to changing the face of men’s health in Ireland.

Together we can change the face of men’s health
Men’s health is not only about men – it’s about families, carers, communities, and workplaces. When men are healthier, everyone benefits. The evidence from The Real Face of Men’s Health is clear: action is needed now, and you can be part of the solution.

Join Movember this year to put men’s health on your workplace agenda and help build a healthier future for Ireland’s men, their families, and their colleagues.

Register your workplace for Movember: here

For further fundraising support, campaign resources or men’s health talk requests please contact info.ie@movember.com