Men’s Health Month: 26 Years of Progress and Counting
Awareness period is key to fighting the spread of COVID-19
Style Magazine Newswire | 5/26/2020, 1:45 p.m.
June is Men's Health Month and the global activities associated with this month-long celebration this year are more important than ever, and now include encouraging men to fight the spread of COVID-19 by seeking early treatment for symptoms, practicing safe distancing, and being a role model for their children.
In 1994, when Men’s Health Week first launched, women outlived men by 6.6 years. Men’s Health Week has since been expanded to include all of June as Men's Health Month, and by 2017, that gender gap had narrowed to five years. Why the dramatic change? Well, Men’s Health Month (MHM) itself has played an important role.
Celebrated every June across the country and around the world, MHM features screenings, health fairs, media appearances, and other health education, awareness, and outreach activities. Community leaders, workplaces, government agencies, faith-based communities, and healthcare providers are working hard to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of health issues that affect men, boys, and their families.
However, despite all these efforts, a significant gender gap persists. Men and boys die in greater numbers and younger ages from nine of the top 10 causes of death. They account for more than 90% of workplace injuries and fatalities, are less likely than women to be insured, and are far less likely to see a doctor for preventive care.
All of this impacts their ability to be involved fathers, supportive husbands, and engaged members of their community. Biology plays a role here, but many experts, including those at Men’s Health Network (MensHealthNetwork.org) believe that many of the premature deaths and illnesses that affect men and boys are preventable.
The real culprits are socialization and lifestyle. As young boys, our sons are taught that “big boys don’t cry,” leading to the inevitable "macho-man” attitude, where they’re expected to ignore health concerns and “push through” the pain. Conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, and COVID-19 could have far better outcomes if men were to recognize the symptoms and seek treatment promptly. But they don’t.
That same macho attitude keeps males from seeking help for depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues. As a result, boys and men self-medicate, smoking, drinking, and abusing drugs more than women and engaging in more risky behavior. And males are four times more likely than women to commit suicide.
These same mental health and substance abuse problems have grown much worse during the coronavirus pandemic, with loss of jobs, stay-at-home requirements, and threats of foreclosure as men, and women, try to find ways to cope in an uncertain environment.
This has been hard on men, whose self-image as their family’s protector has been shattered, among all segments of society. This is especially true for those, including minority men and those with minimal job skills, who have finally entered the workforce during the recent boom.
The good news is that, working together, we can improve and lengthen the lives of men and boys in our lives, whether they’re dads, fathers, sons, husbands, uncles, boyfriends, friends, or the guy down the street. How? Celebrate Men’s Health Month by encouraging the men and boys in your life to eat right, get exercise, and follow the recommended social distancing protocols. A recent study found that males are less likely than females to comply, not surprising considering their predisposition toward risky behavior.
And when society returns to normal, encourage them to schedule a thorough physical exam (and if they won’t do it, show a little love and make the appointment for them). Chances are, it’s long overdue. Two great sources of men’s-health-related information are the Men's Health Online Resource Center (MensHealthResourceCenter.com) and Get It Checked
In the meantime, you can also celebrate Wear Blue Day on Friday June 19 by taking and posting photos of yourself, family members, pets, etc. wearing blue and using the #ShowUsYourBlue hashtag and giving a shout-out to the guy(s) you’re wearing blue for. Because digital media is so important, MHN has created a social media toolkit with sample Twitter and Facebook posts, along with pictures, online at: www.MensHealthMonth.org/mens-health-month-toolkit.html
For more information about Men's Health Month or to learn how you can participate, contact MHW@menshealthweek.org