Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to address the House today on the vital issue of men’s health, and in particular, men’s mental health. This is not just a health issue; it is a societal issue, a family issue and a personal issue. It affects every community in Ireland. When we speak about men’s health, we are speaking about fathers, sons, brothers, grandsons, partners and friends. We are speaking about the people who build our homes, teach our children, run our businesses and serve in our Defence Forces. Yet, too often, men’s health, especially men’s mental health, remains a taboo.

In Ireland today, approximately 80% of all suicides are among men. That is not just a number; it represents lives cut short, families devastated and communities left grieving. We know men are less likely to seek help for mental health difficulties. Cultural norms, fear of judgment and the perception that asking for help is a sign of weakness all play a role. While women make up two thirds of those who use counselling services, men remain under-represented. Yet, when men do engage, they benefit greatly. Research shows that men who access therapy often report significant improvements in well-being and resilience. This reluctance to seek help contributes to higher rates of suicide, substance misuse and untreated depression among men. It impacts families, workplaces and the wider economy. It is time to change that narrative and these outcomes.

In the previous Government, and continuing in this Government, the Minister for Health announced a revolution in women’s health services. I believe we need to have a similar revolution in men’s mental health services. The Government has made mental health a priority. Our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, sets out the roadmap for a modern, recovery-oriented mental health service. Its second implementation plan, which I launched earlier this year, focuses on improving access, reducing waiting times and embedding mental health supports in primary care and community settings.

Alongside this, Connecting for Life, our national suicide prevention strategy, continues to guide our efforts to reduce suicide and self-harm. It recognises that men are a priority group and calls for targeted interventions to reach those most at risk. We have also introduced the National Men's Health Action Plan 2024–28, which is the first plan of its kind in Europe. It acknowledges that men experience health differently and that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. It addresses gender-specific risk factors, promotes early detection and seeks to dismantle the barriers that prevent men from seeking help. Legislatively, we are progressing the Mental Health Bill, which will modernise our mental health laws, strengthen rights-based care and ensure that services are delivered with dignity and respect.

In budget 2026, we have made mental health a priority, with a major focus placed on crisis support and suicide prevention. There is over €15 million in new funding for crisis support and suicide reduction measures, which include specialist nursing teams in all model 4 hospital emergency departments out of hours to support people in crisis and three new crisis resolution services, including drop-in Solace crisis cafés as community alternatives to emergency departments in areas with model 3 hospitals. We know already from the five Solace cafés we have opened that presentations by men and women in distress to the emergency departments have reduced by 18% as a result of having those cafés as people's first point of call. We will also have additional suicide crisis assessment nurses, SCANs, to support people in crisis who present to GPs in their communities. We have increased funding for the suicide prevention community and voluntary organisations, including Pieta, and there is €1 million in funding to start the implementation of the next suicide reduction strategy.

The mental health budget for 2026 will be almost €1.6 billion. Mental health funding has now increased by over 50% since I took up my role in 2020. I have also secured with the Minister an unprecedented 300 additional new staff for mental health services next year, representing over 9% of the total growth in health service staffing in 2026. We still have a way to go but significant progress has been made.

A significant initiative is the provision of over 15,000 free counselling sessions for men every year, backed up by €2 million in dedicated annual funding. The programme started on 1 September last and will be delivered in partnership with trusted providers such as Connect Counselling and MyMind, an organisation that offers supports in 20 different languages. Men can access these counselling sessions for free through GP referral and yourmentalhealth.ie/men. Why is this important? Because cost should never be a barrier to mental health supports. Too often men delay seeking help because they fear the financial burden. By removing that barrier we are sending a clear message: help is available and it is free. These sessions will be delivered both in person and online, ensuring flexibility for men in rural areas, men with busy work schedules and men who may feel more comfortable starting their journey in a private setting. Sitting at your kitchen table, you can self-refer to Counselling Connect from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. seven days a week and speak to a professional counsellor about whatever is going on for you. You can have up to six phone calls, and if you feel at that stage you would like to meet the counsellor in person, that will be arranged.

We are funding dedicated services for men who have worked in our Defence Forces through ONE, the organisation for ex-service personnel. We are also investing in targeted outreach for Traveller men, ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ men, who face additional barriers and higher risks. This is about equality as well as equity. Once again, the website is yourmentalhealth.ie/men. I hope everybody working in members' constituency offices will become aware of this in order that they can signpost people to supports that are available free of charge. We will run an online campaign very shortly to get the message out there. It will be a national awareness campaign aimed at breaking down stigma and encouraging men to take that first step. Included will be a targeted media campaign using the full range of communication channels available, including social media, paid search and local radio as well as a co-ordinated approach to stakeholder engagement with a range of voluntary and community partner organisations.

I was very keen to have MyMind on board because it provides counselling supports in 20 different languages around the country. We now have lots of people in the country whose first language is not Irish or English. They come in on permits and they might need access to mental health supports as well, so having MyMind providing those supports is really important. I hope that this campaign will feature real stories from men who have benefited from counselling because nothing is more important than hearing from someone who has walked the same path.

We have also partnered with the Irish College of GPs, which is aware of all these supports. My team in the Department met with over 1,200 GPs online in September to let them know that these supports are available and free of charge and that there are 15,000 counselling hours available and they are recurring.

This is about saving lives. It is about creating a culture where men feel it is okay to say, "I'm not okay." It is about ensuring that when a man reaches out for help, the help is there quickly, locally and without judgment. It is also about knowing that recovery is possible. We know that early intervention works, we know that talking saves lives and we know that when men engage with mental health services, outcomes improve dramatically. We also know there is no health without mental health.

Of course, we cannot stop here. This initiative is a major step forward but it must be part of a broader journey. Over the coming years, we will continue to expand community-based mental health supports, including peer-led programmes and men's sheds initiatives. We will continue to tackle health inequalities, ensuring that marginalised groups are not left behind. We will invest in digital mental health solutions to reach men who may never walk into a clinic but will engage online. We will strengthen collaboration with employers, sports organisations and community groups to promote mental well-being in every setting and for everyone. Everyone in this House and beyond has a role to play in changing the conversation about men's mental health. We need to challenge outdated notions of masculinity that equate vulnerability with weakness. We need to create spaces where men can talk openly and seek help without fear of judgment. To the men listening today: your mental health matters. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of strength. Whether you are struggling with stress, anxiety or depression or simply feeling overwhelmed, help is there. Take the first step. It could change your life.

I thank the many organisations, advocates and individuals who have worked tirelessly to improve men's health in Ireland. Their efforts are making a difference, and together we can build a society where every man feels supported, valued and able to thrive. The Government is committed to that vision. We will continue to invest, innovate and lead the way in mental health policy because every life matters and every man matters.

I acknowledge the important role of initiatives like Movember. Every November thousands of men across Ireland and around the world grow a moustache - not just for fun but to spark conversations about men's health, raise awareness of mental health challenges and fund vital research and support services. Movember looks at mental health through a male lens, focusing on prevention, early intervention and health promotion. The movement works towards a world where men take action to be mentally well and are supported by those around them. I encourage everyone to support Movember and similar campaigns in order to keep men's mental health a national priority.

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