The Western Australian Men's Health and Wellbeing Policy (hereafter, the Policy) provides direction to the WA health system and its partners to deliver strategies to improve the physical, mental, social and emotional wellbeing of men and boys living in WA. This Policy is the first of its kind in WA and outlines our response to the National Male Health Policy.
The Policy outlines clear goals and areas requiring action where men and boys are at higher risk. The Policy covers strategies to empower men to be proactive in managing their own health and wellbeing, and help to ensure equitable access to important health services which will meet men’s needs.
Working Together
The Policy is the result of an intensive phase of research, discussion and consultation with many stakeholders. Community members had the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Policy, released in June 2018, via either an on-line survey or at one of the community consultation forums, which included four in the metropolitan region and 15 in regional areas. More than 400 people provided their insights on the draft WA Men’s Health and Wellbeing Policy between June and August 2018.
Overview
Vision: To optimise the health and wellbeing of all men and boys in WA
Purpose: To provide direction to the WA health system and its partners to deliver strategies to improve the physical, mental, social and emotional wellbeing of men and boys living in WA
Goals:
- Men are empowered to be proactive in managing their health and wellbeing
- Men have equitable access to services (including prevention and early intervention initiatives) that meet their needs
- Men's health and wellbeing needs are monitored, evaluated and inform continual improvement of programs, services and initiatives
Men's health in WA
Men are significant and positive contributors to life in WA through their diverse family, work and community roles. They need to be empowered to continue this positive involvement, allowed to reach their potential and be supported to enjoy a long and high quality life.
However, men continue to face poorer outcomes than women on almost all measures of key health and wellbeing indicators. They have lower life expectancy, and have higher levels of mortality from almost all non-gender specific causes of death including injury, cardiovascular disease, cancer, suicide, respiratory disease, and obesity. In WA, males experience a greater total disease burden than females.
From a psychosocial, economic and social point of view, improving men's health and wellbeing is better for men, their partners and families, the community and the economy. Supporting the health and wellbeing of men needs to be recognised as a whole-of-community issue. This should include a focus on promoting and facilitating men's healthy living and strengthening health and community service delivery to men.
Although the men’s health and wellbeing sector in WA has a perceived lack of clear definition and identity, there is an existing network of services that can be leveraged for improving men’s health and wellbeing outcomes. All services must recognise and address the health and wellbeing needs of men and ensure they are more strategic, coordinated and gender appropriate.
Publications
Last reviewed: 28-03-2019
Produced by
Health Networks