June is Men’s Health Awareness Month, but it originally started as a week when it was introduced to Congress in 1994 and sponsored by Senator Bob Dole and Congressman Bill Richardson. President Bill Clinton signed it into law and provided a call to action for all American men to pay better attention to their overall wellness.
“Even in the face of better, more accessible detection and prevention programs, we need men to recognize and adopt healthier lifestyles,” Clinton said. “No health care policy can replace the benefits that American men would reap from this change.”
The specific week every year would be the week before and leading up to Father’s Day. The idea then became an international sentiment thanks to six organizations working together at the World Congress on Men’s Health in 2002. At around the same time, there was a growing movement to extend it for the entire month of June while also focusing on mental health. The result of that is June now being known as both Men’s Health and Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.
Why Men’s Mental Health Deserves More Attention
The statistics show why men’s health and wellness matter and should be a priority for families. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the average lifespan for an American man is 76.5 years, nearly five less than 81.4 for women.
As of 2023, research concluded that the top three causes of death for men are the following:
Heart Disease – Around one in four men were affected by some sort of cardiovascular disease when they died. Men are also reportedly more likely to suffer heart attacks earlier in life than women.
Cancer – Half of American men could be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetimes. Around one in eight will face prostate cancer, specifically, says the CDC.
Unintentional Injuries and Issues – The third leading cause of death are unintentional injuries, which could range from something occurring on a job site to drug overdose to motor vehicle accidents.
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The Alarming Statistics Behind Men’s Mental Health
While mental health didn’t make the top three list, it has been a growing concern for several years now. Reports from various organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), CDC, and others shed some light on why this is the case.
One of every five men in the U.S. face some form of depression or anxiety, and six million live with it annually. Unfortunately, 40% of men confess that they would not speak about this, which is believed to be one of several reasons why 80% of the estimated 48,000 suicides in the most recent verified data are men. Suicide is the number two cause of death for men under 44 and is in the top five for men 45 to 54, according to Yuna.
Of course, veterans are included in that group. In 2023, 6,398 veterans would die from self-removal. 94.5% of that group were men. Surprisingly, this is slightly down from previous years, but Disabled American Veterans (DAV) reports that on average, 17 to 18 veterans end their own lives daily.
Important Men’s Health Programs and Initiatives
There are several groups, organizations, and leagues that understand the importance of health for men and are taking action. Major League Baseball and the Prostate Cancer Foundation has announced a Home Run Challenge, where every home run hit during MLB games in the month of June will result in donations towards research. Various teams throughout the league are also hosting their own specific prostate cancer awareness events around Father’s Day Weekend, including the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, and the Athletics.
The NBA’s Atlanta Hawks hosted “Real Talk, Real Strength: Men of Color Health Summit” at State Farm Arena for the second year in a row. This event was intended to create more dialogue around both mental and physical health.
Even beyond sports, groups throughout North America such as the Men’s Health Network (MHN) and the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation (CMHF) have placed extra focus on Father’s Day week to face the issues around psychological health head on.
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The Connection Between Fatherhood, Health, and Future Generations
If the numbers alone aren’t enough to raise eyebrows and make men pay attention, then perhaps the holiday that is surrounded by all this attention could be. Whether men are fathers, stepfathers, or other family members to the children of the next generation, these issues can either be passed down or tackled head on so the boys that are under your influence have a greater chance for a longer and healthier life.
Personal experience and science confirm that trauma from childhood, issues surrounding alcohol or drugs, and even mental health challenges can be a generational issue.
Then there are mental health issues. While numbers show that isolated depression has a 1 in 2 chance of being inherited, that number jumps from 50 to nearly 80 percent when combined with anxiety.
Aside from genetics, men are very influential, which means these issues can be picked up by children just as other common habits. A child’s brain is developing just as the body is while they are growing up. That makes it more likely for their mindsets and thinking processes to be influenced by their surroundings. That works both ways; either a child can grow up facing trauma and taking that with them into adulthood, or that curse can end with the parent and giving the younger family members a better chance at greater mental health.
One example of this is Alex Eubank. Before becoming an internationally known fitness influencer with over 2 million Instagram followers, he was challenged with mental health issues in high school and early adulthood. He recently shared his struggles on Instagram and credited his father for helping him as he was pursuing his journey in the fitness space.
“My dad would give me things like (Bible Verses) to reaffirm my mission and keep me dialed on my faith as I started chasing my dreams of being an influencer in the fitness industry.”
Eubank’s transparency led to many followers sharing their own struggles, which led to more conversations about mental health. His father was simply being a good dad, but that noble act went on to reach many people he never met, confirming the importance of addressing mental health instead of ignoring it.
What Men Can Do Today to Improve Their Health
The numbers may appear overwhelming, but they are not absolute. Men can begin taking immediate action to move in the right direction, and they don’t require significant time commitments or financial investment, but the rewards can literally be generational when applied correctly.
Make Training a Must
Aside from annual health screenings, the American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes (2 ½ hours) of physical activity a week can reduce the risk of heart disease by as much as 40 percent. A combination of resistance training and cardio has been proven successful at taking on the root causes of heart disease.
The data and personal testimony will confirm that whether it is with bodyweight, a barbell, dumbbells, machines, or any other form of resistance training, it has been and continues to be a very positive way to relieve stress and mental health issues that negatively impacts no one else.
Food and Sleep Matter Too
Training can be either the most exciting or most challenging component, depending on your perspective, but men need to also focus on food and sleep. The former can be somewhat easier to take on than the latter for most men, but both are absolutely vital if changing health fortunes are a priority.
Choices as simple as increasing daily vegetable intake by just one-quarter cup and swapping refined grains (white bread, white rice) for whole grains, while adding fatty fish (like salmon or mackerel) twice a week while keeping protein consistent can make a positive difference, says Harvard Health.
Sleep Well and More
Stress and anxiety are considered primary foes of quality sleep, but Harvard experts also say that hacks such as eliminating blue light 45 minutes before bed, developing a consistent sleep routine instead of catching up on weekends, and prioritizing a minimum of seven hours a sleep a night can help with depression, stress, and help maximize recovery from exercise.
Get Help with Mental Struggles
As noble as it may seem to “tough it out alone,” the truth is we all need help, and it shows courage to admit when mental health matters come up. Even someone as famous as NBA star Kevin Love acknowledged this as part of his own journey. After having a public panic attack during a game, Love opted to be transparent, and it has resulted in many others doing the same.
“The reality is that we probably have a lot in common with what our friends and colleagues and neighbors are dealing with,” Love said. “Everyone is going through something that we can’t see.”
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Men’s Health Awareness Month Is More Than Just a Campaign
Reclaiming one’s health isn’t an overnight victory. Rather, it’s a daily grind and a monotony of mastery. Nonetheless, it’s a challenge that must be not only accepted but embraced. The habits and daily execution are individually based, but the ramifications and influence can extend beyond yourself to your family, friends, communities, and even to the nation if you are serving the country or have plans to.
Young men without families can maximize their potential by investing the time and energy into being their best selves now and be better prepared to start a family in the future, while fathers, grandfathers, and other men that are involved with children now can serve as the compass for those younger people to follow. Father’s Day could be a great starting point as long as the work continues far beyond this June and into the months and years ahead. For two and a half centuries now, the ultimate goal for every generation of Americans has been to make sure the next generation is better off than they are. If that tradition is to continue, then the time for passive awareness is over. The time to act is now.
