With Father’s Day as its centerpiece, June is the perfect time to talk about preventative care and other health issues primarily affecting men and boys. While women tend to be proactive about physical and mental well-being, it’s traditionally a struggle to generate the same enthusiasm among males.
That needs to change — and Men’s Health Awareness Month intends to facilitate it. Urged by advertising campaigns, outreach and even word-of-mouth encouragement from family and friends, men should seize this opportunity to step up and embrace steps to help them live longer, healthier lives.
In May, during Women’s Health Awareness Month, and October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s not unusual to see pink ribbons displayed to put a spotlight on the chronic ailments and afflictions common among women. Mammograms and other preventative measures are clearly encouraged and, hopefully, save lives.
There is less fanfare when it comes to men. It’s rare to see a blue ribbon promoting men’s health in June, or in September for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. “Movember,” an initiative that encourages men to grow mustaches for men’s health awareness in November, has a higher profile than when it began 22 years ago, but remains a relatively niche campaign.
That makes this June, and every June, so important. American men have shorter average lifespans than women (75.8 years versus 81.1 years), a difference that has grown considerably in recent decades.
There are many reasons for that gap, from men working more dangerous jobs and engaging in riskier behaviors, to the higher rates of social isolation and suicide recorded among American men. But there’s also this: Men are less likely to see a doctor regularly and are more inclined to ignore ailments until they become serious problems.
A compelling study by the Cleveland Clinic in 2023 found “81% of American men said they believe they are leading a healthy lifestyle.” However, the data concluded the opposite: 44% of men don’t get an annual physical, 51% said they maintain a healthy diet and 27% said they watch television for five hours a day on average.
The study also found that 83% of U.S. men have experienced stress in the last six months but 65% said they were “hesitant to seek professional help for mental health concerns such as stress, anxiety and depression.”
It’s unlikely that an overwhelming number of men will suddenly embrace safer behavior or work in less risky environments, but many of the other problems — poor diet, lack of physical activity, social isolation, depression — can be addressed in part by health professionals … if men have the courage to seek help.
Men’s Health Awareness Month aims to erase that stigma and encourage men to seek the care they need and the help they deserve. That begins with seeing a doctor annually to discuss things such as diet, exercise and stress, and to conduct routine tests that can identify any potential afflictions before they become serious problems.
It’s important to care about cardiovascular health — heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men — and to recognize signs of skin cancer. Men should be encouraged to examine themselves for testicular cancer, just as women do for signs of breast cancer. And they should schedule a colonoscopy at age 45 and a prostate exam beginning at age 55 — or earlier in life if there’s a family history of either disease.
And it’s critical to do a better job reinforcing that good mental health is critical to good overall health. Stress and depression are silent killers, but there are strategies and treatments that can help. The suicide rate among men is alarming and taking these concerns seriously — rather than telling someone to “man up” — can make a difference.
Too little attention is paid to helping men and boys get the care, attention and information they need to live their best lives. This month can be the moment that changes.
