Latest news with #MindingYourWellbeingforMen
Irish Independent
05-08-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Cllr Healy-Rae – ‘culture of silence' on men's mental health needs challenging
The funding aims to break down barriers and to recognise that while men are more likely to experience serious mental health difficulties, they are less likely to seek help. Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae welcomed the initiative saying the challenges facing his generation of young men can best be tackled by talking and interactive counselling. He said men make up around 80 per cent of all suicides, nationally, yet women represent two-thirds of clients in existing counselling services. This new service will provide counselling annually through GPs, the HSE helpline, and The new programme will also include targeted supports for young Traveller men and the promotion of tailored mental health programmes such as 'Minding Your Wellbeing for Men'. Cllr Healy-Rae explained that the initiative will give men a safe space to talk in a way that suits them and make those services easy to access. 'As a 30-year-old man, I see first-hand the challenges my generation, and men in general, face when it comes to mental health,' Cllr Healy-Rae said. 'Too often, men suffer in silence because of stigma, pride, or the belief that asking for help is a sign of weakness. The reality is the exact opposite – reaching out is one of the strongest and most important things you can do,' he added. Cllr Healy-Rae said that whether it is stress, relationship pressures, financial worries, or feeling overwhelmed, help is there. 'I would urge any man who is struggling to take that first step and talk to someone, whether it's a counsellor, your GP, or even a friend,' he said. 'Men of all ages, but especially young men, need to know that it's okay to speak up. This funding is a big step in the right direction, but we must also keep challenging the culture of silence around men's mental health. If this announcement encourages even one man to open up, it will already be a success,' Cllr Healy-Rae concluded. The announcement of funding of €2 million was made by Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler.
Irish Examiner
04-08-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
€2m fund for counselling to boost men's mental health
More than 15,000 counselling sessions will be offered to men annually as part of a new government initiative to improve men's mental health. A total of €2m in funding has been announced by mental health minister Mary Butler to provide therapies and counselling supports specifically tailored for men. The additional services will begin next month. The funding is targeted at assisting with stigma reduction and actively encouraging men who otherwise would not usually avail of counselling to seek help with their mental health. Ms Butler said: 'This is a much-needed initiative to widen access to supports for men, from mental health promotion activities right through to counselling services and specialist support. These new supports will be made available to every GP in the country for direct signposting to men during consultations. 'They will also be available directly to men through our HSE helpline and online and promoted in a targeted national marketing campaign beginning from September.' The initiative will support men by: Investing in new counselling and mental health supports, providing easier access to supports and greater choice for how men access them and when; Actively promoting the full range of mental health supports which can be accessed by men; Actively evaluating the impact of increased promotion of help-seeking supports for men. Ms Butler added: 'It is well documented that women are much more likely to seek access to counselling services than men, with women making up two-thirds of all clients availing of our national counselling service. 'Yet given that around 80% of all people who die by suicide are men, this imbalance is something we need to address, and this initiative aims to do just that. 'It is essential that men feel they can reach out to access the services and support they need and deserve, or simply equip them with the confidence to talk to family and friends.' Funding is also being provided to specifically enhance mental health supports for young Traveller men through a partnership with Exchange House, as well as to support general population mental health promotion initiatives, including the Minding Your Wellbeing for Men programme. Ms Butler said: 'We have to remove the stigma for men when talking about mental health and provide therapies and counselling supports that are easy to access.'
