Men’s Health Week

What is Men’s Health Week?

Men’s Health Week is an international event to raise awareness about men’s physical and mental health, with the aim of giving boys and men access to the information, services and treatment they need to maintain their health. Organisations can participate in this event by raising awareness about issues relating to men’s health and addressing problems or barriers to men’s healthcare.

When is Men’s Health Week?

Men’s Health Week runs from 12 – 18 June.

Why is there a Men’s Health Week?

There are many reasons why organisations may wish to directly address issues in relation to men and boys’ health. For example, here are a few statistics about their mental health:

• 2 in 5 men admit to regularly feeling low or worried
• 40% of men won’t talk about their mental health
• 40% of men said it would take thoughts of suicide or self-harm to compel them to seek professional help
• Men with mental health problems can earn 42% less money than men without them.

Men’s Health Week is an opportunity for organisations to show that men’s health is an important concern to them, so that male colleagues may be more likely to speak up when they are experiencing low mental health, before the problem becomes more complex. Burnout and stress cost the UK economy £28bn a year, so it is important for employers to invest in employee health and well-being.

And in regards to men’s physical health:

• Men are nearly twice as likely as women to die prematurely from diabetes
• Amongst people working full-time, 37% of men had seen their GP in the past 3 months compared to 53% of women
• Men are 67% more likely to die from the common cancers that affect both men and women.

These statistics show that employers can demonstrate to their commitment to men’s health by showing male employees that taking time off for their health is a positive thing and will not impact their career prospects.

Men’s Health Week facts you should know

Here are a few quick Men’s Health Week facts to know:

• The Men’s Mental Health Network supported Senator Bob Dole and Congressman Bill Richardson to create Men’s Health Week, to be passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1994.
• Men’s Health Week became an international event during the second World Congress on Men’s Health in 2002, where organisations agreed to recognise the event to raise awareness about preventable mental and physical health problems, and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.
• This year’s Men’s Health Week focuses on the internet and its health implications for men.

How to celebrate Men’s Health Week in the workplace

There are numerous ways to commemorate Men’s Health Week at work, including:

• Ask your male colleagues to speak at events for Men’s Health Week to share their experiences with their mental or physical health
• Read and share ‘The Ultimate Guide to caring for Men’s Mental Health’ among your colleagues
• Use the bitesize inclusion toolkit to facilitate conversations about men’s health
• Equip your managers with the knowledge to manage colleagues inclusively with Mental Health and Disability training
• Participate in the campaign on social media with the #MensHealthWeek tag and let your Marketing and Communications team know when it is taking place
• Conduct an Equality Impact Assessment to review whether there are any barriers for men when accessing health and well-being resources at work.

Contact your account manager if you’re a member and need more support with celebrating Men’s Health Week. If you’re not yet a member, get in touch today to see how we can help.