International Men's Day

Both these events aim to focus a light on health issues men face with the aim of changing health statistics for men. This year’s International Men’s Day theme is ‘Better health for men and boys.’ 

Here are some facts from International Men’s Day website: 

• Men on average die 4-5 years before women

• Men are nearly twice as likely to suffer from lung cancer or heart disease than women

• Men have a suicide rate that is 3 times higher than women

• 95% of workplace deaths are men.

So here are some tips for men to make sure they are thinking about their health:

• Take some time to reflect on your health. Think about whether you are affected by either physical health or mental health (or both) conditions. Review what is important to you and where you might improve.

• Visit your doctor – men can be notorious for avoiding doctors and ignoring symptoms. Schedule yearly check-ups and keep appointments. Doctors can help you monitor your mental and physical health and make any recommendations that are needed.

• Spend time with people who make you feel good. Make connections and stay connected. Spending time with people is important and good for you. Make time to catch up with your mates.

• Move more. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to prevent some problems, like heart disease. This does not have to be any particular type of activity just try to be more active. Some ideas could be taking the stairs instead of the lift, meeting mates for a walk or parking the car further away from your destination.

• Reach out. Talking to others can be hard but talking means that you can receive and give help to others. The Movember website says that “70% of men say that their friends can rely on them for support, but only 48% say that they rely on their friends.”

If you need any help with your physical or mental health, have concerns about anyone in your life or want to reach out please contact your local Family Recovery Centre at Mates4Mates.

Written by Mates4Mates Psychologist Laura Stewart