Who’s Promoting Men’s Health?
Men are dying unnecessarily. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017), more than one million or 809.9 per 100,000 men died in the United States in 2015. The top 10 causes of men’s death in 2014 were heart disease, cancer (prostate), unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, diabetes, suicide, influenza and pneumonia, kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Imagine if we took the same poll today in 2022. Most of these diseases are preventable. Yet it seems that little if anything is being done to promote addressing men’s health and awareness early. The loss of men’s lives results in direct and indirect costs to this country. For example, children are left without fathers and may ultimately live in poverty because of the loss of the father’s income. Subsequently, others may need to assume the cost of rearing and educating those children. Additionally, these men’s impact on this country and mankind is lost through their deaths. Men experience chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic obstructive diseases at alarming rates. Geneau et al. (2010) propose that chronic disease is a national health issue and an international health issue that creates a global health burden. Chronic disease is now the leading cause of death and disability worldwide and will account for more than threefourths of all deaths in 2030. Furthermore, more than 80% of worldwide mortality occurs in low-income and middle-income countries (Geneau et al., 2010). Chronic diseases are directly linked to an individual, family, and community-level outcomes. Though life expectancy gender differences are decreasing in many Western countries, men experience higher mortality rates at all ages. Men are often reluctant to seek medical care because it is linked to femininity, male weakness, and vulnerability. Many men are also more likely to access emergency care services in response to injury and/or severe pain instead of engaging primary health care services. These observed gender inconsistencies have prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to endorse awareness programs specifically targeted at male populations. Programs recommended by WHO include implementing partnership projects with men (e.g., involving fathers in decisions about family health), implementing gender transformation interventions (e.g., educating males to reshape deconstructive male gender-related habits), and promoting mass media outreach initiatives (Geneau et al., 2010 ). Studies have shown that almost 60% of the more than 1,100 American men surveyed said that “something prevents them from going to the doctor,” and more than one-third of American men aged 18 to 54 said they wait until they are extremely sick before seeking medical help (AAFP, 2007). Of note, suicide is four times more common in men than women, and risk factors include depression, social isolation, and/or alcohol overuse (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Men do not routinely seek professional help for depression (Allmedia et al., 2019), and it can be challenging for men to articulate their mental health concerns to their medical providers. Men often express depression as anger and irritability and are likely to treat their symptoms with alcohol and other drugs. Traditional treatment for depression relies on pharmacotherapy and/or counseling, and an effective alternative counseling method for men can be all-male groups that offer a safe environment.
TALKING IT THROUGH
Motivational interviewing is a counseling style that can resolve men’s ambivalence for selfhealth by challenging their thinking and expectations toward a readiness to change (Rollnick & Miller, 1995). Conjuring and facilitating the release of a man’s inner motivation and resources for change, motivational interviews can be a valuable tool for medical providers and should be encouraged (Rollnick & Miller, 1995). Most importantly, focusing on positive aspects of what men can do for their health, strength, and resilience to follow through will inevitably advance men’s self-health. Just as you take your car into the shop for maintenance and oil changes, you should also do routine check-ups with your providers. Men should regularly see their primary care provider yearly for check-ups. If there is a need for specialists, please refer to one and complete the necessary tests as indicated or recommended. Men are important to society, and asking questions or feeling the need to seek treatment for health care management or concerns does not mean you’re less than a man- -You Are Our Legacy!
