Around 40 per cent of poor health and premature death among Australian men can be prevented by healthier habits, and this Men’s Health Week, June 10 to 16, we’re giving blokes the superpower to change their wellbeing for the better.
Healthy Male and Western Sydney University’s Centre for Male Health have joined forces to launch the Good Health Heroes campaign, which aims to educate Australian men on the health issues most likely to affect them and encourage prevention through sustainable lifestyle changes.
Using data from Ten to Men’s longitudinal study on male health, it’s underpinned by research that highlights the conditions that men experience the highest burden of disease, which includes diabetes, various cancers, stroke, heart disease, injury, mental health disorders and reproductive and sexual disorders.
“We want to remind men that looking after your health takes a bit of time and effort, but it’s not as hard as you might think, and it’s far less difficult than dealing with a health condition,” Healthy Male chief executive officer Simon von Saldern said.
“Start with small changes like a walk around the block each day or adding a new vegetable on your plate each week and work your way up.”
The campaign focuses on six key foundations of good health in men: nutrition, exercise, connection, reducing risk-taking, health literacy and sleep, and champions self-manageable, achievable and sustainable habits to improve their outcomes in each one.
The campaign features a range of resources such as infographics, case studies and health practitioner education activities.
The campaign is also supported by key experts and organisations such as the Federal Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Fatherhood Consortium, Australian Men’s Health Forum, Australian Men’s Shed Association, Centre for Gender Equity in Health and Medicine, CPA Australia, Dads Group, Flinders University, Gotcha 4 Life, Greater Western Sydney Giants, MATES in Construction, Movember, OzHelp, PANDA, Ten to Men, The Men’s Table, the Western Sydney Wanderers and Young Blood.
“It’s more important than ever to come together to highlight the importance of men’s health and the profound and positive impact that improving it can have on our whole community,” Western Sydney University Centre for Men’s Health director associate professor Emma George said.
Men’s Health Week is an international initiative that takes place every June and focuses on all the factors contributing to men’s wellbeing.
Over the week, key experts in the men’s health space highlight the challenges men face in prioritising their health and how both individuals and healthcare systems can overcome them.
For more information on Men’s Health Week, our Good Health Heroes and how you can get involved, visit www.goodhealthheroes.org.au