International Men’s Health week is an annual global initiative that aims to raise awareness of men’s health issues, promote healthy lifestyles, fight stigma surrounding men’s health and encourage men to prioritise their well-being. Celebrated in June each year, this week-long initiative aims to bring attention to the physical and mental health challenges faced by men worldwide. 

This year’s Men’s Health Week will be held between the 12th – 18th of June. 

Men’s Health issues have long been surrounded by societal stigmas of silence. By shedding light on men’s health, we can break down barriers, challenge stereotypes and encourage open conversations. 

Physical Health 

One of the primary objectives of men’s health week is to promote healthy lifestyle choices for better physical health. Whilst both men and women face health challenges, men encounter certain issues that are more prevalent and are specific to men. Common conditions include Coronary Artery Disease of the heart (CAD), Prostate Cancer and Diabetes (Gleneagles Hospital, 2019). Consistent checkups are essential to identify these conditions as they often have no symptoms in early stages, and getting treatment at early stages is crucial. 

From personal experience, checkups were able to identify prostate cancer in a family member who had no symptoms. Doing so enabled him to seek appropriate and successful treatment, preventing further growth of the cancer. Understanding the need for consistent checkups changed the previously stubborn mindset of my family member and prompted him to seek help. I hope this small anecdote encourages you to seek a checkup or encourage someone you know to also seek a checkup. 

The following website is a simple but informative resource to inform yourself or help inform someone you know of these common illnesses. Do consult your general practitioner for further information and to address any specific concerns. Early detection is key! 

Link: Top 3 Men’s Health Concerns

Mental Health

Mental health is a crucial and often under acknowledged part of men’s overall well-being. A range of studies and statistics consistently highlight the gap between men experiencing mental health illnesses and men seeking support or treatment. 

There are many reasons for these underwhelming statistics, one being the social norms dictating that there is the pressure for men to ‘man up’ or ‘tough it out’. As a result there is a reluctance to talk about mental issues and acknowledge the severity of these issues. The downplaying of symptoms amongst men also discourages seeking professional support. 

One survey conducted by the Priory Group commissioned a survey of 1000 men in the UK to gain a better understanding of how men think and interact with mental health. For participants who don’t talk about their mental health, their underlying reasons were as follows:

Whilst you may not align yourself with these reasons, it is important to acknowledge that someone you know may not choose to seek professional support due to these factors. The lack of awareness regarding these reasons reflects an environment that makes it uncomfortable for a friend or family member to discuss their mental health and not seek professional support. 

So what can we do?

Men’s Health Week is here to raise awareness, inform yourself on the shape of men’s health and prompt conversation and thought about men’s health. On an individual level we can all try to engage actively with Men’s Health Week, and encourage friends and family to do the same. Share appropriate resources and be open minded when talking to your friends and family members. The following links are a suitable introduction to inform yourself about the current environment of men’s mental health, symptoms to look out for and how to appropriately address men’s mental health. 

Links:

1. Men’s Mental Health: 40% Of Men Won’t Talk About Their Mental Health
2. Infographic: Mental Health for Men
3. Men’s Mental Health

If you believe yourself, friend or family member is struggling with their mental health, the following is an advisable path for you to take:

Here are some advisable personal strategies:

1. Relaxation Techniques: Take 5 minutes out of your day to embrace visualisations, breathing exercises and meditation to address high levels of anxiety.
2. Physical Activity: Engaging in exercise is a great mood booster, as it stimulates the release of positive endorphins in the brain. A brisk walk is an excellent starting point.
3. Moderate Alcohol Intake: although drinking may seem tempting when stressed or upset, it can ultimately exacerbate negative emotions in the long run. 
4. Stay Social: Humans are social creatures, it is important to recognize the importance of maintaining social relationships although it can be challenging at times.

Conclusion 

Although the current shape of the men’s health environment may be underwhelming, there have been notable improvements. In Singapore, there have been significant increases in the number of men seeking help from healthcare professionals regarding their mental health in the past few years (MOH, 2021). Globally, research has indicated a range of ‘what works’ in mental health promotion for men. Safe spaces for men promoted trust, reduced stigma and normalised mens engagement in interventions. Integrating interventions within male communities and actively involving them fostered trust and familiarity, which was further strengthened by embracing ‘male-positive’ values. Utilising male-sensitive language facilitated healthy emotional expression and promoted social interaction (Robertson et al., 2016).

We have seen notable improvements in the past decade in men’s health. Continuing on the current path will only see more improvements!

To meet with a professional psychologist or counsellor, call The Other Clinic at 8809 0659 or email us hello@theotherclinic.sg.

References

ADAA. (n.d.). Men’s mental health. Anxiety Disorders and Depression Research & Treatment | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. https://adaa.org/find-help/by-demographics/mens-mental-health#:~:text=Over%206%20million%20men%20suffer,and%20women%20develop%20the%20illness

Gleneagles Hospital. (2019, December 5). Article. https://www.gleneagles.com.sg/health-plus/article/common-mens-health-concerns

Mental Health America. (n.d.). Infographic: Mental health for men. https://www.mhanational.org/infographic-mental-health-men

MOH. (2021). National Population Health Survey 2020/2021. Ministry of Health Singapore. https://www.moh.gov.sg/resources-statistics/reports/nphs-2020-21

Priory Group. (n.d.). 40% of men won’t talk to anyone about their mental health. Priory. https://www.priorygroup.com/blog/40-of-men-wont-talk-to-anyone-about-their-mental-health

Robertson, S., Gough, B., Hanna, E., Raine, G., Robinson, M., Seims, A., & White, A. (2016). Successful mental health promotion with men: The evidence from ‘tacit knowledge’: Table 1:. Health Promotion International, daw067. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daw067