The topic on many people’s minds right now is ‘Why is men’s health not taken seriously?’
Why is men’s health important? Men’s health is equally important as other gender identities. In years gone by men were told to ‘be a man’ and ‘suck it up’ whenever they expressed concern – physical or mental – and because of this, men have often missed symptoms of illness or haven’t asked for help.
Research from Cleveland Clinic has shown that a worrying percentage of men have withheld important information regarding symptoms from their GP. This is suggested to be due to a variety of reasons, including not wanting to show vulnerability; wanting to live up to societal expectations of men; feeling uncomfortable in healthcare environments; and much more.
Common Men’s Health Issues
There are many health issues that are more prevalent in men than women nowadays, some of the most shocking of these being:
- Heart Disease is the prominent cause of death in men
- Approximately 16 out of 100 men are reported to be daily smokers
- Testicular cancer is now the most identified cancer in young men ages 15 to 35
- Men are almost 3x more likely than women to be dependent on alcohol
- 87% of rough sleepers are men (Crisis)
- 3x more men than women report frequent drug use (HSCIC)
This is along with further male-specific problems such as prostate cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, Gynaecomastia (male breast tissue), and incontinence.
If you are experiencing any of these, you should rest assured that you are not alone and many other men have sought support from healthcare professionals.
Men’s Mental Health
As more men feel confident to discuss their mental health, insights in regard to this on men have become more pronounced – presenting worrying statistics from Men’s Health Forum such as:
- Around 34% of men asked said they are embarrassed to take time off work for mental health
- 6% thought that they could handle their mental health concerns without professional or family help
- 3 in 4 suicides are by men and it’s the biggest cause of death for men under the age of 35
- 2 in 5 men asked admitted to feeling frequently worried
- 37% of men said social media has a poor impact on their mental health
The above goes hand in hand with common mental health issues seen in men, like PTSD/trauma, Bipolar Disorder, Mood Disorder, Eating Disorder, and so on.
The causes and treatments of these need to be vocalised and destigmatised, encouraging men to seek professional support for their health problems.
Teladoc myStrength – Emotional wellness app
Teladoc myStrength doesn’t replace seeing a GP face to face but it can be used to help men get initial support for their emotional wellness in the comfort of their own home 24/7 365 days of the year.
Through our free app, people can complete helpful, personalised, and highly interactive activities. Plus, they can chat with Teladoc myStrength ‘Guides’ who will help them access the right activities for them through online messaging.
MARK’S WELLNESS JOURNEY
Mark’s story – emotional wellness from Teladoc Health UK on Vimeo.
28 year old Mark began his wellness journey with Teladoc myStrength when he recognised he needed a helping hand improving his sleep and support with controlling his anxiety and stress levels.
Mark realised he was particularly stressed at work when he had an upcoming meeting or presentation. Using the Teladoc myStrength app regularly, Mark was able to target specific problems and improve them step by step.
Mark said, “I recommend it – it’s easy to use and tailors itself directly to you. It’s helped me and I think it could definitely help other people as well.
Each task has step by step stages so I know I can pick up exactly where I left off and know roughly how long it’s going to take me. Because it’s an app I can access it regardless of where I am – in a queue or on my lunch break.”
Men’s Health Week
Men’s Health Week is coming up from the 12th to 18th of June and it’s vital to raise awareness of the most common health concerns related to men, including men’s physical and mental health.
Ways you can get involved in Men’s Health Week:
- Reaching out to your male friends and showing them you’re listening
- Booking an appointment with your GP if you need support physically or mentally
- Sharing content related to men’s health on your social media pages to spread awareness
- Create a fundraising challenge in your workplace or community
- Step up your self-care game
- Volunteer at men’s centres or groups
- Download the Teladoc myStrength app and complete the on-the-go activities
Click here to download the Teladoc myStrength app and begin your wellness journey!
If you are in crisis and need urgent support – please visit our crisis support page: https://mystrength.org.uk/crisis-support/
