Concorde helps Celebrate Men's Health Month

Men's Health Month is celebrated every June in the United States and the activities are hosted by the Men's Health Network. The week that led up to Father's Day is International Men's Health Week, this year its took place June 11th-17th.

The mission for Men's Health Month is to reach men and their families where they live, work, play and pray with health awareness and disease prevention messages and tools, screening programs, educational materials, advocacy opportunities, and patient navigation.

Brief History

Senator Bob Dole and Congressman Bill Richardson with the support from Men's Health Network (MHN), an international non-profit organization, created the awareness period. It was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1994 as Men's Health Week (the week ending on the U.S. Father's Day). In the late 1990s, Men's Health Week was expanded to include the whole month.

International Men's Health Week

Men's Health Network organized a meeting at the first World Congress on Men's Health in Vienna 2001, to discuss synchronizing a universal men's health awareness period linked to the official recognition by the U.S. government.

The next year at the 2nd World Congress of Men's Health, again in Vienna 2002, a follow-up meeting organized by MHN found a universal agreement which lead to the launch of Men's Health Week around the globe.

A web page was created for the International Men's Health Week, to organize the participating countries and recognize the efforts in those for countries that do not have an established website.

Startling Men's Health Facts

There are lots of interesting health facts about both men and women out there. Here are a few that just might be a bit startling to hear:

• 1 in 2 men are diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime compared to 1 in 3 women
• Women are 100% more likely than men to visit a doctor for annual exams
• Men suffer hearing loss at 2 times the rate of women
• Men who smoke lose 12 teeth by age 72
• Causes of erectile dysfunction include heart disease, obesity, tobacco use, stress, and high cholesterol
• Prostate cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in men
• Men make up 55% of the workforce, yet account for 92% of all workplace deaths
• Lack of preventative care means men die on average almost 5 years earlier than women
• Each year over 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 30,000 will die from it
• 1 in 3 new dads are concerned about mental health problems
• Masculinity is negatively correlated with a willingness to take medication to improve mental health
• The 3rd most common reason men don't seek mental health help is they think they can handle the problem on their own

How You Can Support Men's Health Month

There are lots of ways you or your company can help spread awareness for Men's Health Month. Some of the more popular was to participate are: Planning a fundraiser such as a 5k or putting out donations jars around the office or local business, Set up a health fair or attend other local health fairs, Help get family or friends set up to go to the doctor, or bring friends together for some healthy activities and encourage them to learn more about men's health.

One of the easiest ways of showing support is to #ShowUsYourBlue on Wear Blue Day which is held on the Friday of International Men's Health Week, this year was June 15th. Wear Blue Day is often celebrated by private companies, government agencies, sports teams, and individuals to show their concern and support for the health and well-being of boys and men.

Concorde Joins in

This year Concorde Career College decided to join in the fun and Participate in Wear Blue Day. Concorde strongly believes in the health and well-being of all our male colleagues and students, and more importantly the general public whom our faculty and students serve.

To learn more about what Men's health issues visit menshealthnetwork.org/healthfacts and to learn more about Concorde visit concorde.edu or call us today!