June 10th to the 16th marks the 2019 International Men’s Health Week, an observance meant to bring awareness to all male health issues as well as the preventative measures taken.

Recognised by World Health Organisation, WHO, International Men’s Health Week was launched in 1994 due to the rising concerns for healthcare and high levels of premature mortality among men in the years prior. This interest exerted the need to have a better understanding of how the role of gender can affect social, environmental, economic and cultural determinants of health and their interactions with health systems.

In addition, the framework of the 2030 Agenda for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) operates in line with the objectives set in the WHO Men’s Health Report based on the European region.

Each year, Men’s Health Week focuses on a theme or a concern pertaining to current global events. For example, 2018’s theme was based on Diabetes. This year’s campaign examines the theme of ‘Men’s Health by Numbers’, an apt approach on alerting males on the facts and figures relating to their health. For example, attention will be brought on the seven main health facts that men should know and the five main statistics that policymakers should not disregard. The figures are as follows:

Seven Main Health Facts-

♦ 37 is the waist size in inches that men should stay within. Anything above puts them at risk of heart disease, diabetes or cancer
♦ 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week is recommended
♦ 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day are preferred as part of one’s diet
♦ 14 units of alcohol a week maximum is recommended
♦ Cigarette smokers die 10 years earlier than average non-smokers
♦ 120/80 is the standard blood pressure
♦ 75% of suicides are committed by men

Five Main Statistics to encourage policymakers to act-

♦ 1 out of 5 men dies before the age of 65 years old
♦ 2 out of 5 men die before the age of 75 years old
♦ 3 out of 4 men commit suicide
♦ Men in unskilled work are 3 times more likely to commit suicide than those in a senior position
♦ The richest men live 10 years longer than the least well-off men

Participants are more than welcome to show their support and to partake in the events during the week’s celebration.

References:

1. The Health and Well-Being of Men in WHO European Region Report, WHO
2. International Men’s Health, 2019, MensHealthForum UK
3. Welcome to the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland, Mhfi
4. Men’s Health Week, 2019, Gamh