Men’s Health Information
Welcome to our men’s health information page. You will find a wealth of useful information about men’s health and wellbeing, along with a list of local services and support that is available across our region.
Men’s Health Statistics
A boy born in Australia in 2010 has a life expectancy of 78.0 years while a baby girl born at the same time could expect to live to 82.3 years old. Right from the start, boys suffer more illness, more accidents and die earlier than their female counterparts. Men take their own lives at four times the rate of women (that’s five men a day, on average). Alarmingly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men have a much less life expectancy than non indigenous counterparts and are among the most disadvantaged when it comes to the health in our country.
These frightening statistics are exactly why we need to do as much as we can to promote men’s physical, emotional and social health and encourage men to take control over their own wellbeing.
Men’s Health Week 2022
View Central Highlands Rural Health’s Men’s Health Week Newsletter here: mens-health-week-newsletter-june-2022
Men’s Health Week is celebrated every year around the world in the middle of June. It is an valuable opportunity to highlight the importance of men’s health, and to support the health and wellbeing of men and boys in our communities. Men’s Health Week focuses on not just physical heath, but also men’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Men’s Health Week is designed to provoke thought and discussion about what needs to be done to improve male health.
The theme of Men’s Health Week 2022 is Building Healthy Environments for Men and Boys – focusing on creating physically, mentally and emotionally healthy environments in the home, workplace and in social settings. Building Healthy Environments for boys and men is essential. We want the boys and men in our community to feel comfortable enough to talk about their health and have confidence in knowing how to access professional health services.
Due to a lack of awareness, poor health education, and culturally conditioned behaviour patterns in their work and personal lives, the health and wellbeing of men and boys is an area of concern.
Currently, Australian men are more likely to develop serious health problems than Australian women. Their mortality rate is also much higher. Male deaths outnumber female deaths in every age group apart from the over – 65 years, and only because so many men die before reach retirement. Compared to women, men visit the doctor less frequently, have shorter visits and only attend when their illness is in its later stages.
According to data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2016, the death rate from the main causes of death is generally higher for men than women. The ratio of male deaths compared to female deaths by cause of death is:
Men’s Health Resources
These organisations provide information and support regarding male health. Please see each of the listed websites below for more information. Please remember, if you are feeling concerned about your health or are experiencing any health issues, go and visit your doctor (GP) and for any emergencies please contact 000, or present to your nearest Emergency Department.
General:
Healthy Male: www.healthymale.org.au/
Spanner in the Works: https://malehealth.org.au/
Mental Health:
Lifeline: www.lifeline.org.au
Headspace: www.headspace.org.au
Mensline Australia: www.mensline.org.au
Chronic Disease:
Heart Foundation: www.heartfoundation.org.au
Cancer Council: www.cancercouncil.com.au/
Diabetes Australia: www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia: www.pcfa.org.au
Parenting:
Dads in Distress: www.parentsbeyondbreakup.com
Connecting with Community:
Social connection is good for everyone’s health. There is evidence to show that having high-quality relationships and feeling socially connected to the people in your life reduces your risk of disease and death. Lack of social connection is linked to poor physical health and poor mental health. For example, men with low levels of social support are more likely to experience high levels of psychological distress than men with strong social supports.
Therefore, it is important that boys and men are building meaningful social connections and are being seen and heard within the community. Connecting with people and groups within the community, whether it be through volunteering, playing sport, getting involved in local community clubs or charities or other social events is a way to build social connections and being an active community participant. Not only does this give men a sense of purpose and boosts their mental and social wellbeing, it gets them out there engaging with others.
Why not get involved in your community today! Here are some ideas of things to do/ organisations you can join:
To stay up to date on all things health and wellbeing across the region, please subscribe to our quarterly Population Health and Wellbeing Newsletter.
Want to find out further information about men’s physical, mental and social wellbeing? Check out our Special Edition Men’s Health Show bag
Hear from our Men’s Health Week 2020 community ambassadors as they chat all things from staying healthy, to men’s health issues, accessing information, barriers and health screening.
Developed by our friends at West Wimmera Health Service, Farmer Wants A Healthy Life podcast series are stories of looking after you, whilst on the farm. The choices you make can change your life; hear it from those that have done it.
