KR HR & TRAINING NEWS ARTICLES
Men’s Health Week
Men’s Health Week (running from 12th to 18th June) aims to raise awareness of preventable health conditions which disproportionately affect men, and to promote and support the health and wellbeing of men and boys. Our consultant Kirsteen has looked into the issues and how employers can get involved.
WHY IS MEN’S HEALTH WEEK IMPORTANT?
In general, men’s mental and physical health is unacceptably poor and statistics illustrate the high number of men that lose their lives through premature deaths.
- In the UK, one man in five dies before he reaches 65
- Prostate cancer kills 12,000 men in the UK every year.
- Three-quarters of deaths from suicide are male.
- Three quarters of deaths from heart disease are male.
Men’s health is deeply unequal across the country and life expectancy in England differs from region to region by 22 years due to deprivation.
- Male-life expectancy is 68.2 years in the Bloomfield ward of Blackpool
- Male-life expectancy is 90.3 years in the Warfield ward of Bracknell Forest in South East England
- Men are 32% less likely than women to visit a doctor.
HOW CAN WORKPLACES ENCOURAGE MORE UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT OF MEN’S HEALTH ISSUES?
A great way to show men’s health issues matter and to build an open workplace is to keep talking about men’s health and encourage staff to join in with supportive men’s movements, such as Men’s Health Week and Movember. Showing that your workplace supports these causes will indicate that it is an environment that cares about male wellbeing, and will also help to build trust between colleagues, making it easier to discuss any issues they may be facing.
Ensure employees know who to speak to at work if they have health concerns e.g. a mental health first aider or if Employee Assistance Programmes are available to employees, share relevant information about their benefits and the services available.
Additionally ensure managers are aware of resources or appropriate organisations they can signpost team members to so they are able to access confidential information at a time that suits them.
If you’re not sure about how to provide this support for your workforce, do speak with our team for more information.
Encourage NHS health checks. The NHS Health check is for adults in England aged 40 to 74, and is designed to spot early signs of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease or dementia. Encourage all employees to attend medical appointments, both virtually and in-person by offering flexibility for those to take place within work hours.
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED AND FIND OUT MORE?
The Men’s Health Forum is leading a campaign, along with academics and charities, for recognition of a gender-sensitive approach. They are calling on the government to create and introduce a national Men’s Health Strategy to level up and address issues in both the physical and mental health of men and boys throughout their lives.
Visit their Men’s Health Forum website to find out more about the campaign, get informed about men’s health issues and details of how you can get involved.