Gerard Boyle: Going the long distance for better health

November marks two major awareness campaigns, dedicated to men – ‘Movember’ and ‘International Men’s Day’ – both aiming to help men lead healthier, happier and longer lives.

Through opening conversations and breaking stigmas, Movember aims to urge men to prioritise their health and encourage their loved ones to support them in doing so.

It’s a well-known fact that men are less likely to speak up about their feelings, visit a doctor or keep on top of regular health screenings, but are more likely to delay seeking medical attention until symptoms become much worse and, in many cases, untreatable.

Gerard Boyle is one of many men to have completed the council’s Men’s Health programme, in partnership with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and the Public Health Agency.

Gerard said “I’ve been a lorry driver for almost 30 years, and the nature of the work means I’m sitting for extended periods of time and not being as active as I’d like to be.”

After seeing the programme advertised on Facebook, Gerard was keen to learn more about looking after his health and well-being, and he had been moving in the right direction with lifestyle changes, until severe back pain has reared its head following an accident 20 years ago.

Gerard said “The programme addressed lots of different health concerns for men and it was good to get expert information and a better understanding of these issues and learn how to take action towards better health.

“Each week we had guest speakers come in and talk to all the men about things like heart health, cancer, drugs and alcohol, healthy eating, domestic violence and getting active.

“I suppose for me, being a lorry driver and a smoker – learning more about blood pressure, cholesterol and sometimes the first symptom of heart disease is a heart attack or stroke – actually really hit hard! But I’m happy to say that since the programme I quit smoking and I am now 4 months off the cigarettes!

“Up until the back pain returned I had been making a bigger effort to be more active by walking quite a bit – the black paths around Craigavon are great for walking! Although my movements are more restrictive now, I still manage to go swimming which gives me some relief.”

Gerard also enjoyed meeting other men through the programme, listening to their experiences and stories, which he also said ‘gave him the nudge to make changes to his own lifestyle.’

For more information on men’s health visit https://mentalhealth-uk.org/mens-mental-health/