International Men’s Health Week is coming up, and stark statistics show just how vital it is, writes Jason Osborne
International Men’s Health Week begins every year on the Monday before Father’s Day and ends on Father’s Day itself, meaning this year it runs from Monday June 14 to Sunday June 20. An initiative of the Men’s Health Forum, it is celebrated in a number of countries around the world including the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Ireland is in on the action too, with the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland promoting their three overall aims for the campaign:
– Heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages.
– Support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices/activities.
– Encourage the early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males.
Why is there a need for a male-specific health week? There’s a whole number of reasons. As is often the way, men constitute roughly 50% of the population on the island of Ireland, with research showing that men experience a disproportionate amount of ill-health and youthful death.
Research compiled by the Men’s Health Forum shows that men tend to die younger than women do, with men also having higher death rates than women for almost all of the leading causes of death, and at all ages. Men’s poorer lifestyles are often responsible for a high proportion of chronic diseases, while late presentation to health services can lead to a large number of issues becoming untreatable.
According to the Men’s Health in Numbers report, issued in December 2020, in 2018, the four main causes of death among males across the island of Ireland were invasive cancers, circulatory system diseases, respiratory system diseases and external causes of injury and poisoning.
The mental health of men in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is of increasing concern, too, with a “strong link” between mental and physical health now being recognised. In the republic in 2018 alone, 327 males died by suicide, alongside 110 females. In Northern Ireland, 2018 saw 145 males and 39 females die by suicide (based on a similar classification to the republic).
Pandemic
As was the case last year, Men’s Health Week 2021 takes place within the context on the pandemic. With this in mind, the campaign this year is focused on rebuilding; rebuilding relationships with family and friends, our neighbours, churches, community groups and clubs, and anything else men might be involved in. As such, the themes of the week are ‘Making the Connections’ and ‘Check in. Check up. Check it out’.
Making the Connections
As the Men’s Health Forum points out, it wasn’t that long ago that the world was largely unaware of the full extent of men’s poor health status and the health issues that they specifically deal with.
An enormous amount of research has been done (some of which can be accessed at www.mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2021.html) on the issues afflicting men, including but not limited to cancer statistics for men, suicide among men, and the impact of recession and unemployment on men’s health, which is particularly pertinent in the wake of the pandemic.
A lot of work has already been done on male health in Ireland, with a number of plans made that have influenced how services and structures in Ireland support men.
Policymakers, service providers and society need to play their part in improving the situation”
Men themselves play the central role in looking after their own health, of course: everyone’s health and well is in their own hands to some degree at least. However, as the title ‘Making the Connections’ would suggest, no man is an island. While it is crucial that each man does what he can to look after himself, their health can often be affected by other factors outside of their control.
Policymakers, service providers and society need to play their part in improving the situation. As the country, and the world, emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, the focus must be on enabling men to rebuild and reconnect with those aspects of their lives that most improve health – relationships, jobs, networks and routines.
If anything comes up in conversation with friends, family or colleagues that troubles you, don’t be afraid to encourage them to check it out, too”
This is why making connections is the focus of the week, and why the call to action involves checking in, checking up, and checking it out.
Check in. Check up. Check it out
By ‘check in’, it’s hoped that men check in with themselves to observe how they’re doing, how they’re coping/feeling, both physically and mentally. Health worries or concerns should be identified and given the attention they need.
‘Checking up’ involves connecting with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues to see how they’re doing and offering support where it’s needed. The pandemic was, and remains, a threat to the physical health of many, but the toll it’s taken on the mental and spiritual health of many cannot be underestimated either. This kind of care is just as important.
Finally, if you notice anything worrying or which needs medical attention, ‘check it out’ and seek information, help, support or treatment as soon as possible. Again, this applies both physically and mentally. If anything comes up in conversation with friends, family or colleagues that troubles you, don’t be afraid to encourage them to check it out, too.
Covid-19
The pandemic has also, of course, had a major health impact upon men across the world. There is broadly similar incidence and prevalence of the virus in women, but men:
– Are faster at developing serious illness.
– Recover more slowly from the virus.
– Have a higher death rate.
A wealth of information on the impact of Covid-19 on men’s health can be found at www.mhfi.org/coronavirus.html, including links to resources, videos and presentations on the subject.
Who can get involved in the week? While it’s Men’s Health Week, everyone is invited to take part in encouraging men and boys to take better care of their health and to seek out treatment at early stages of any kind of ailment or affliction.