Men’s Health Awareness Month
20 Nov 2023
Sessions available for Men’s Health Awareness Month events
For the month of November, we have been focusing on men’s health awareness topics supporting the International Men’s Day UK Sunday, 19 November and Movember campaigns.
Please view our Men’s Health Awareness Month article released earlier this month for more information about these campaigns and support available.
Men’s Health Group Proposal
We would like to understand further if colleagues would like to have a Men’s Health Group at the university. The aim of the group would be to share up-to-date information on men's health topics, provide information on events and a space where male colleagues can share information.
Please provide your feedback on the Men’s Health Group proposal by following this link.
Why is discussing men’s health topics important?
With the very worrying continuing increase in male suicide (3852 male suicides, 74%, 2021), prostate cancer (on average 143 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each day in the UK) and other health issues, it is crucial that we continue to raise the platform of men’s health and get people talking. The better understanding individuals have of the risks, signs and symptoms, and where to go for support, this encourages people to get the help they need sooner. Talking about health problems, life challenges and worries is not easy and research highlights that although it is improving, men are more reluctant to talk about concerns and access support. Talking about men’s health in the workplace is important as it presents more opportunity to raise awareness and to help provide support.
Dr Cathryn Rodway, Programme Manager and Research Associate, National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH), UoM, discusses male suicide further:
“Suicide rates in men are consistently higher than for women, with men more than three times more likely to die by suicide than women. Since the mid-1990s, males have accounted for around three-quarters of all suicide deaths and middle-aged men have the highest rates of suicide of any other group. Addressing suicide in men is an important issue for both services and wider society, we must break down the shame, the stigma, that can prevent men from seeking help. Our national study of suicide by middle-aged men found a complex mix of longstanding and recent events that may contribute to suicide risk in men in mid-life – economic stressors, isolation, mental ill-health, alcohol use – and contact with services in many men that may offer opportunities to help.”
If you are currently struggling and in need of help, please view support pages provided by International Men’s Day UK.
Events
Places still available and refreshments provided: Prostate Cancer UK: Tony’s Story and Prostate Cancer Awareness Talk, Thursday, 23 November, 12:00- 12:45pm, Zochonis Hub, Zochonis Building
Tony Collier, BEM, Ambassador, awareness speaker, volunteer and fundraiser for Prostate Cancer UK, Trustee of Tackle Prostate Cancer and Trustee of the Move Charity.
Tony will be joining us to talk about his journey through Prostate Cancer and deliver an awareness talk and Q&A session for staff.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with 1 in 8 men being diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
This session is open to everyone, including individuals who are currently experiencing prostate cancer or could be directly impacted by prostate cancer in the future and also to individuals who may be indirectly impacted, so you may have a colleague, a family member or friend who may be at risk or currently experiencing prostate cancer.
There will be a Health Check Clinic available alongside this event in the Zochonis Hub, please see details below.
Free Health Check Clinic, Thursday 23rd November, Zochonis Hub, Zochonis Building
Our Occupational Health team with our placement on campus nursing students will be running a pop up Health Check Clinic. Health checks are available between 11:00 – 12:00 and 12:45 – 14:00pm in the Zachonis Hub, Zachonis Building. You do not need to book a health check slot, you can just turn up. All staff are welcome.
There will be a wide variety of health information handouts available to take away with you.
Andy's Man Club: Luke's story and Andy's Man Club information session, multiple dates available
Luke Tetlow-Cross, a speaker for the charity Andy's Man Club will be joining us to deliver a session to talk about his story and deliver an information session about the support available.
The information session will involve a presentation covering the origins of the charity, support available, their goals for the future and most importantly Luke's story discussing what brought him to Andy's Man Club, what keeps him going to the weekly group and then a question-and-answer session at the end. These sessions are open to all staff, both those directly and indirectly impacted by the topics discussed. You might have a colleague, friend or family member who would benefit from the information you learn at this session and you can pass along.
- Monday, 20 November 2023, Training room 3.9, third floor of the Roscoe Building
- Thursday, 23 November 2023 15:00 - 15:45, Training room 3.9, third floor of the Roscoe Building
- Register for a talk
International Men’s Day: in conversation with Dan Sarginson, Former rugby league cup winner and England international, Tuesday, 21 November, 12:30 – 1:30pm, online event
Join the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health (FBMH) for their International Men’s Day event with Dan Sarginson, a former professional rugby player and mental health advocate, who will be sharing his personal battle with mental health during his professional career.
Please be aware that potentially upsetting content may be discussed during this event.