SWAN Hill District Health community health department will host a Men’s Health Week breakfast designed to normalise the conversation around health and support the wellbeing of men and boys in the community.
Men’s Health Week is celebrated from June 12 to 18 and focuses on all the factors that contribute to men’s wellbeing.
Over the week, key experts in the men’s health space will highlight the challenges men face in prioritising their health and how both individuals and healthcare systems can overcome these.
About 40 per cent of poor health and premature death in Australian men could be prevented by healthier habits, according to Western Sydney University.
This year’s focus is on mateship – that is, the social connections between men, the ways to improve these connections and what the benefits of these connections mean for men’s health.
Across Australia one in eight men is likely to experience depression in his lifetime and one in five is likely to experience anxiety.
According to Australian Men’s Health Forum, 43 per cent of men experience loneliness and 24 per cent of those aged 35-49 years report high levels of loneliness.
The event on Friday, June 14, aims to open up the conversation around men’s health and challenge rigid gender stereotypes of men and boys in the community.
Health promotion officer Tara Higgins said there was still a lot of pressure on men to live up to traditional stereotypes such as being strong and always in control.
“This cultural norm has led to men visiting the doctor less, having shorter visits and only attending visits when their illness is in its later stages, causing men to be more likely to suffer from lifestyle-related conditions compared to their female counterparts,” Ms Higgins said.
By holding a breakfast, the community health department invites men, boys and their families and friends to come together and use this opportunity to check in and have a chat with the men.
Ambulance Victoria will provide free blood pressure checks promoting the importance of early detection.
Ms Higgins said the event wasn’t about just physical health but mental and emotional health as well, which could be gained through community connection and collective support.
“Research has shown two-thirds of men who are struggling or in crisis don’t feel confident enough or empowered enough to ask for help,” she said.
“Holding a breakfast is a great opportunity for men to get more information and have conversations around actively challenging harmful gender stereotypes about men and boys in the community.”
The breakfast will have information for men and freebies and, with help from the Rotary Club of Swan Hill, egg and bacon rolls will be provided.
The free event will be held at Bunnings Swan Hill 7am-8.30am.
For more information, call the community health department on 5033 9337.
