Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)

Four out of five suicides in Ireland are male. This figure is deeply distressing and behind every number is a man, often young, often in the prime of his life, whose loss devastates families, friends, and communities across the country. Every one of these deaths leaves a ripple of grief that stretches far beyond the immediate circle. It not just a statistic; it is a husband, a son, a brother, a team-mate or a colleague. Ireland has shown leadership in this space before. We were the first country in the world to publish a national men's health policy in 2009. This initiative made a real and measurable difference. Premature deaths among men declined, awareness approved and the national framework for action began to take shape. More than 15 years on, we know there is still a long way to go. The report entitled "The Real Face of Men's Health", published by the Movember earlier this year, makes it clear that mental health remains a most urgent and worrying issue. GPs across Irish are telling us the same story of stigma, silence, time pressure, and of a continuing reluctance among men to seek help. Ninety-seven percent of GPs said they had seen male patients in suicidal distress last year, most between the ages of 18 and 51, yet only a small fraction feel they have the full training or capacity to respond as they would wish. That is why the new €2 million initiative providing 15,000 free counselling sessions for men is such an important and timely step forward. Delivered through trusted partners like Connect Counselling and MyMind and accessed directly through GPs, it means men can reach support earlier, before a crisis escalates. It recognises that services must reflect how men actually seek help, and that the pathway must be simple, affordable and free from stigma.

We also know that community-based initiatives work. Initiatives such as men's sheds, On Feirm Ground and Engage have proven their ability to reach those who might otherwise remain isolated. Time and again, we see that connection is the first step towards recovery. Investing in men's mental health is not just about reducing suicide rates. It is also about restoring hope, rebuilding confidence, and ensuring that men of all ages feel seen, supported and valued.

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