Celebrating Men, and Shining the Light on Men’s Health

June 10 kicks off Mens Health Week and in Australia, this special week gives us a platform to challenge men to take charge of their wellbeing and helps us all chat about key issues in men's health.

There are health issues that only affect men, and their needs can be very different to women, such as prostate cancer and low testosterone.

It is important to have regular check-ups, and to get the screening tests you need. Early detection of illness or disease can help increase your chances of a full recovery.

Men are also less likely to reach out about their mental health struggles, resulting in higher mortality rates from depression. Men make up an average six out of every eight suicides in Australia, according to Beyond Blue.

Effectively managing your mental health can make a real difference to your quality of life. But talking about anxiety and depression can be hard.

If you're worried about someone, simply letting them know you care can make a big difference.  Visit Beyond Blue for some helpful advice on starting a conversation.

Some more interesting (and confronting) facts

• Only 30% of a man’s overall health is determined by genetics, and 70% is controllable through lifestyle choices
• Drinking more than 10 drinks a week almost doubles your chance of diabetes
• Inactive men are 60% more likely to suffer from depression than men who are active
• Men who sleep 7-8 hours a night have a 60% less risk of a fatal heart attack, than those who only sleep for 5 hours or less
• Men make up 56% of the workforce, yet 94% of workforce fatalities are men
• The top 3 reasons for reduced lifespan in men are cardiovascular disease, suicide and motor vehicle accidents

What you can do for better men’s health

• Attend regular check-ups with your GP. Yes, this could mean a prostate exam.
• It's OK to seek help - don't try to do everything on your own or bury problems. Talk to your wife, friends and workmates.
• Be active in getting medical help if you don't feel well, have a problem that won't go away or notice any unusual symptoms.
• Get the help you need to manage your life, work, family and financial needs. It’s OK to reach out.
• And most importantly, don't leave it too late to seek help.

So, for all of us with men in our lives, please be proactive in helping them get the help they need to keep going. You can use available hotlines, speak with professionals for the best action plan, and be persistent with them.

Mensline Australia provides confidential online and phone counselling for men. You can reach out to them by visiting their page mensline.org.au or by calling 1300 78 99 78