Men’s Health Week 2015 – 15th to 21st June – Focus on Healthy Living for Men

 Men’s Health Week 2015 – 15th to 21st June – Focus on Healthy Living for Men

 

Further to LTB 376/15, this is to remind Branches, Health and Safety Reps and Regional Health and Safety Forums that Men’s Health Week runs from today 15 June to 21 June.

 

Men’s Health Forum leads Men’s Health Week in England and Wales and the CWU has a long standing relationship with MHF. 

 

HEALTHY LIVING FOR MEN

 

Men’s Health Week 2015 focuses on healthy living challenging men to:

 

▪ Look after their relationships and wellbeing

▪ Don’t smoke

▪ Drink sensibly

▪ Be active and exercise

▪ Watch their weight

▪ Watch their blood pressure

▪ Skin & Sun Safety

▪ Back protection

▪ Stress

▪ Turn up to their NHS Health Check

WHY THIS TOPIC – WHY HEALTHY LIVING FOR MEN?

Men are less likely to lead a healthy lifestyle. They are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol to hazardous levels and be overweight or obese. These lifestyles can lead into serious diseases such as cancer, heart diseases, stokes, diabetes etc., the risk of which can be reduced by leading a healthy lifestyle and doing the right things at home and at work.

 

Why Is This Important?

One in five men dies before the age of 65. That’s 20% of men who won’t reach retirement age. Additionally:

▪ The mortality rates in the UK for males were 619 deaths per 100,000 compared to 451 per 100,000 for women

▪ The biggest single cause of death in men is cancer. Men have a 37% higher risk of dying from cancer and a 67% higher chance of dying from cancers that affect both men and women

▪ 75% of premature deaths from coronary heart disease are male 

 

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vital for avoiding serious diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Yet men are far more likely to lead an unhealthy lifestyle:

 

▪ Men are more likely than women to smoke, smoke more cigarettes per day and smoke hand-rolled tobacco. 22% of men reported smoking compared to 17% of women

▪ Men are more likely than women to drink alcohol and drink at hazardous levels. 14% of men reported drinking an alcoholic drink on five or more days in a week compared to 9% of women

▪ 67% of men are overweight or obese

▪ Men are more likely than women to eat too much salt, red meat and processed meat

▪ Men are more likely than women to eat too little fruit and too little vegetables

▪ 67% of men reported they met the government recommendations for physical activity

▪ Participation in activity amongst men declines with age. 83% of men aged 16-24 met the recommendations for physical activity, compared with 57% aged 65-74.

Lifestyle and Health Impacts

 

Whilst men are often reluctant to opt for healthier choices, unhealthy lifestyles can lead to dramatic consequences for male health. Men who have unhealthy lifestyles are more likely to:

 

▪ Suffer from mental health issues

▪ Be at risk from heart attack

▪ Be at risk of two or more health factors

▪ Suffer from diabetes, chronic liver disease and cancer

 

This issue has significant problems across the UK. 75% of premature deaths from coronary heart disease are male.

 

Men have a 37% higher risk of dying from cancer and a 67% higher chance of dying from cancers that affect both men and women. 

 

There are also wider implications in terms of cost. ASH estimates that the total cost of smoking to society is approximately £12.9 billion a year. Obesity is estimated to cost £27 billion a year.

 

A Growing Problem

 

The majority of men are now overweight or obese. And although the number of males reported to be smoking has declined, the use of hand rolled cigarettes has increased alongside drinking alcohol and eating unhealthily. 

 

THE MEN’S HEALTH MANIFESTO

 

The Men’s Health Manifesto challenges men and health providers on these issues.

 

A copy of the Manifesto is attached.

MEN’S HEALTH WEEK 2015 RESOURCE PACK – HEALTHY LIVING FOR MEN

 

The MHF week resource ‘pack’ brings together the essential information for Men’s Health Week. One in five men dies before the age of 65. MHF say that ‘together, we can change that’. Led by the Men’s Health Forum in England and Wales, this year’s Men’s Health Week runs from the 15th to 21st June and aims to highlight issues around healthy living for men. 

 

The resource pack is available at:-

 

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mens-health-week-2015-resource-pack-healthy-living

 

MHF want individuals, including CWU Health and Safety Reps to contact them and let them know what you think about the resource pack.

 

HEALTH INFORMATION FOR MEN

 

MHF provide quality information that meets the NHS Information Standard.

 

• Male Health: Food FAQs

• Male Health: Fitness FAQs

• Male Health: Alcohol FAQs

• Male Health: Smoking FAQs

 

Copies are attached.

 

MEN’S HEALTH MAN MANUALS

 

As well as the resource pack, MHF produce their excellent range of men’s health ‘Man Manuals’ which are available to order all year round.

The Health, Safety & Environment Department has circulated copies of three Men’s Health Forum mini Man Manuals to Health and Safety Reps and Regional Health and Safety Forums. These cover the ‘Healthy Living For Men’ Men’s Health Week focus issues. They are:-

 

• The Man Manual – Men’s Health Made Easy

• Man Manual – Challenges & Choices

• Beat Stress Feel Better – Men’s Health Made Easy

 

Any Branch wishing to order further manuals can do so at the following link:-

 

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mhw

 

MHF/MIND/NMHDU – MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH REPORT & GUIDANCE

 

Previously circulated when first published in 2011, a copy of this excellent report produced jointly by Men’s Health Forum, MIND and the National Mental Health Development Unit is attached along with a MHF Stress at Work Poster.

 

MEN’S HEALTH WEEK POSTERS

 

These are available/downloadable at:-

 

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mens-health-week-2015-posters

 

Copies of two versions are attached from the full range.

 

SIGN UP FOR NEWS FROM THE MEN’S HEALTH FORUM – MEN’S HEALTH WEEK 2015

 

Get the MHF newsletters, news and information sent to you by signing up. It’s the easiest way to keep up to date with MHF’s men’s health policy and best practice work and with the latest health information for men.

 

Sign up at:-

 

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/sign-news-mens-health-forum

 

MEN’S HEALTH FORUM (MHF) CONTACT DETAILS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

 

The Men’s Health Forum

32-36 Loman Street

London, SE1 0EH

Tel: 020 7922 7908

 

THE MEN’S HEALTH FORUM (MHF)

 

The Men’s Health Forum is a charity that works to improve men’s health services and the health of men. In the UK, one man in five dies before he reaches 65 and the MHF works with individuals and organisations to change that. Through their advice, research and campaigning MHF aim to reduce the tragic deaths of men and boys who simply die too young because of preventable health problems. MHF believes that there is an urgent need to tackle the unnecessarily and unacceptably poor health and wellbeing of men and boys. The health of the whole population should be improved through an approach that takes full account of the needs of both sexes. Men and boys should be able to live healthy and fulfilling lives, whatever their backgrounds. MHF works to achieve this through:

 

• Policy development, research and lobbying

• Supporting other organisations and services to engage more effectively with boys and men on health issues

• Providing authoritative and unique health information for men – here at Male Health

• Leading the annual national Men’s Health Week

• Publishing the award-winning range of mini manual health booklets for men

• Working with MPs and government

• Developing innovative and imaginative best practice projects

• Training service providers and others

• Collaborating with the widest possible range of interested organisations and individuals.

 

MHF works across a number of health and related issues including cancer, workplace health, mental health and access to services.

Men visit their GP 20% less frequently than women and are also much less likely to use pharmacy, smoking cessation, weight management and health trainer services. MHF’s work focuses particularly on those groups of men with the worst health and they are striving to ensure that they take account of the diversity of men and their needs. Successes include MHF campaigns for a screening programme for abdominal aortic aneurysms in older men and for the National Chlamydia Screening Programme to target young men as well as women. As a direct result of MHF’s work, Department of Health policy on pharmacy requires services to address the needs of men and national cancer policy also takes account of gender differences.

 

The Men’s Health Forum was founded by the Royal College of Nursing in 1994 and became an independent charity in 2001. 

 

In 2013 MHF were appointed as a strategic partner of the Department of Health, NHS England and Public Health England. 

 

This programme sees MHF working alongside government to help health providers and third sector organisations improve the health of men and boys. The Men’s Health Forum (England and Wales) is a registered charity (No 1087375).

 

Yours sincerely

 
 

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer