Raising Awareness for Men’s Health This June & Beyond

This June, men’s health is at the forefront of awareness events with Men’s Mental Health Month and Men’s Health Week both taking place. These annual and global occasions are a time to highlight men’s and boy’s health and wellbeing, such as illnesses and diseases that may only – or disproportionately – affect males.

Men’s Health Week – the 10^th to 16^th June – centres around the holistic wellbeing of men and boys. Whereas Men’s Mental Health Month is designed to raise awareness and draw attention to the impact that mental health has on men – both young and old – in order to reduce and prevent deaths by suicide each year.

How Mental Health Detrimentally Impacts Men

Mental health in general is an ongoing issue, and while suicide is preventable, current data has shown that as of 2022, 8.6 Australian’s take their own life every day. For Perspective, those figures are more than double the amount of people who die on Aussie roads.

In 2022, there were 3,249 deaths by suicide, approximately 75% of which were men (2,455) – the remaining 794 were female. In addition, Lifeline statistics show rates of attempted suicide over a 12-month period were 10 times higher than the Australian general population in the LGBTQIA+ community.

The AIHW also reports that demographically, men aged 45 to 49 and 85 and over comprised the highest suicide rates for 2022. Respectively, those figures were 32.7 and 32.6 deaths per 100,000 people. Both of the these age groups were not an outlier: rates were significantly high across the board for ages 40+. In fact, suicide is markedly outpacing other diseases and illnesses in mortality rates for any gender, with suicide being the leading cause of premature death for those aged between 15 and 44.

Destigmatising Mental Health

Many men believe it is a sign of weakness to express their feelings. Equally, there’s an undertone in society that boys should not cry and that men should keep their feelings concealed. Consequently, this has seen a “swept under the rug” approach adopted. As a result, many men and boys are not getting the help they need. This is where, systemically, change is being seen to ensure men feel supported, and that these archaic views are quashed.

To achieve the destigmatisation of mental health, many not-for-profit and mental health organisations are working tirelessly to raise awareness and ignite support. The Australian Government have also released their 2020-2030 National Men’s Health Strategy. However, there’s more than can be done on a micro, community level. That is, how to save a bro. If someone you know doesn’t seem themselves lately ask yourself:

• Does he seem a bit more on edge than usual?
• Has he become quieter in a social situation or even in a group chat?
• Has he stopped wanting to come to social events altogether?
• Has he stopped turning up to sporting events or training?

How You Could Help Your Mate with Their Mental Health

If the above warning signs make you think of a mate who could be feeling down, lonely, or mentally unwell, deploy the ALEC model. That being: ask, listen, encourage action, and check-in:

• Ask questions: how are you? Are you okay? If something doesn’t seem right trust your instincts. Some men may feel opposed to opening up initially, so ask again, and again!
• Listen: give them your full attention and listen actively. It would be daunting for your friend so take the time to absorb what they’re saying and be supportive.
• Encourage action: offer some coping strategies that may help them combat their mental illness. If they seem past this point, possibly encourage them to reach out for professional help from their GP, a support service – such Lifeline – their at work EAP or a psychologist.
• Check-in: don’t let time pass-by; check-in regularly to make sure they’re okay and to see how their journey is going. Support can mean the world, so a face-to-face chat, FaceTime or phone call, or just a simple text could make massive a difference.

Understanding Men’s Health Holistically

Statistically, men are experiencing lower life expectancy rates in comparison to women, meaning more men are dying at a faster rate. According to the Australian Men’s Health Forum, the leading cause of male deaths is heart disease, with 4 in 5 heart disease related deaths being men under 65.

The Department of Health also reports that 1 in 4 men are not characterised as obese and that men are disproportionately more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, and substance abuse. As reported by the Victorian Government’s Better Health Channel, the dominant 10 illnesses and diseases that cause premature deaths within the Australian male population are:

• Ischaemic heart disease;
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s;
• Trachea and lung cancer;
• Cerebrovascular diseases;
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases;
• Prostate cancer;
• Blood and lymph cancer – such as leukaemia;
• Diabetes;
• Suicide;
• Finally, colon and rectum cancer.

What Can Men Do to Become Healthier?

There are many simple measures men can introduce day-to-day to become healthier. Its not surprising that exercise, a balanced diet, a good sleep routine, taking care of your mental health, and abstaining from smoking, drugs and alcohol will engender a heathier lifestyle. Research has also shown that exercise can improve your mental wellbeing.

However, its critical that men take regular health check-ups seriously because diseases can still take hold – regardless of a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, men should:

• Have regular checks for cancer: many cancers lay dormant until something happens and then it’s too late, so schedule regular check-ups with your GP to detect these diseases early – which could save your life!
• Frequently check yourself for lumps and abnormalities: cancers such as testicular cancers can be detected through a self-assessment, however, if left unchecked, it can be fatal. Testicular cancer is also the most common cancer detected in men between 20 and 39. Therefore, Performing self-checks whilst also frequently visiting your GP will assist in making sure you’re on top of your health at any age.
• Don’t skip those GP appointments: according to Summa Health research, 45% of men aged between 18 and 55 are not registered with a GP. Men should be undertaking a health screening each year to detect risks which can be easily delivered by a general practitioner.

Support is Here for All Men & Their Health!

There are many support avenues available such as Lifeline, Beyond Blue, and MensLine Australia if you’re in crisis or simply need to chat. Alternatively, your GP will be readily available to help you with your mental and physical health; they can prescribe medication or refer you to a relevant specialist.

Equally, your work may have an Employee Assistance Programme, like Converge, where you can get support day or night. Take a look at our services to learn more, and should you need it, you may be able to book an appointment via our website or app*.

Please remember: you’re not alone, support is out there! Let’s start to reshape the landscape and bring awareness of men’s health to the forefront.

*Your employer will need to be engaged with Converge International’s services to book an appointment with one of our consultants; check with your HR team to see who your EAP is and how you can contact them. If your EAP is Converge, check with your HR team to see if you have access to the particular service you need.