Men’s health
Too many blokes don’t seek help when they have a health hassle until it gets really bad.
Men suffer from some physical conditions more than women. Leading causes of premature death in men include heart-related diseases and various forms of cancer – especially lung and prostate cancer – stroke, diabetes and suicide. Many of these conditions are preventable.
Physical health
Living a healthier lifestyle
Staying physically active and eating a healthy diet will do a lot to maintain your health and wellbeing.
Just 30 minutes of exercise/moderate activity on most days of the week (at least 2.5 hours per week) will help you stay healthy.
We should all enjoy a variety of healthy foods. Include lots of fruit and vegetables in your diet and aim for meals that are low in saturated fats, added sugars and added salt. This can help protect your body from chronic disease.
Drinks and smokes
Drinking more than 2 standard drinks on any day increases your risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury over a lifetime. Drinking more than 4 standard drinks on a single occasion increases the risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion.
Smoking leads to cancer, heart disease, emphysema and many other health problems. If you smoke, talk to your GP about quitting.
Health checks
Your general practitioner (GP) is there to treat you if you feel unwell, but also to prevent future health problems. One way of doing this is to identify existing or potential things that may affect your health (known as ‘risk factors’).
Your GP may want to detect an illness in its early stages so that it can be treated more effectively. This could involve tests such as checking your blood pressure.
“Some fellas – say, with heart, prostate or skin cancer – leave it too late, when a check-up at the doc’s would have picked it up.” – Dave, 32, nurse
Your GP can also help you improve your health by changing your lifestyle. Even if you feel healthy and don’t think you need a GP, it is still a good idea to have regular health checks.
Mental health
Crisis? What crisis?
Sometimes you might be feeling stressed, anxious or angry, or just need to talk to someone. But sometimes you’re not really sure what to do or where to start.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
There are a range of services to help you, if you need someone to talk to.
Mental health counselling
While mental health is not the taboo subject it once was, it can still be difficult for men to recognise when something’s wrong or to know where to get help. There are many excellent mental health services available in WA.
“Dealing with the loss of my partner after 40 years, and my own ill health, has been difficult, but I’m starting to come out of that black hole through counselling and family support.” – David, 68
Making sense of your dollars
For men who find themselves without money or food, pride often stands in the way of getting financial help. There are support groups which can offer practical and material assistance, including food parcels, disaster relief, furniture and counselling services.
“When I was sacked we were left with a big mortgage. I found out about a free financial service and arranged an appointment with a financial counsellor. He helped with a few options I could take, which took away some of the stress and worry.” – Mark, 55
Legal matters
Hassles with money and legal matters can be a lot easier to manage if you know where to go for advice and assistance.
Community – be part of something
When life seems like it’s never meant to be easy, it can help to get out of your rut.
Helping others and becoming involved in your local community through volunteering can pull you out of a rut. In Western Australia there are a number of community centres, men’s sheds and other places where you can get support, or volunteer and help others.
Habits and addiction
If you’re struggling with a destructive habit, like gambling, smoking, drugs or alcohol, you don’t have to deal with it alone. There is support available to help you break the cycle of addiction or dependency.
This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.