November:
A Month to Focus on Men’s Health and Community
As the year winds down and the holidays approach, November offers an important reminder: health doesn’t take a season off. This month highlights several key awareness periods that affect men and their families, from diabetes and Alzheimer’s to epilepsy, tobacco use, and sexual health. Each topic represents a chance to act, start conversations, and support those we care about.
Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
Led by the Alzheimer’s Association, this month calls attention to brain health and memory care. Men can experience changes in memory, focus, or problem-solving as they age, but paying attention early can make a real difference. Alzheimer’s doesn’t just affect the individual; it affects entire families and communities.
So take time to prioritize mental sharpness, manage stress, and support those navigating memory challenges. A quick check-in or conversation might be more impactful than you think.
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National Diabetes Month
Men are statistically more likely than women to have undiagnosed diabetes and to experience complications when it goes untreated. The message this month is simple: small habits make a big impact. A little more movement, better food choices, and regular checkups can help protect heart health, energy, and long-term quality of life.
It’s never too late to take charge of your health, and even modest changes can lead to meaningful results.
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National Epilepsy Awareness Month
More than 3 million men and boys in the U.S. live with epilepsy. The Epilepsy Foundation’s campaign this month highlights the importance of understanding and compassion. Seizures can happen anywhere, on the job, at school, or behind the wheel, so awareness saves lives.
Learning seizure first aid and talking openly about epilepsy helps reduce stigma and builds supportive environments for everyone.
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End Smoking Month / The Great American Smokeout
Every November, the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout encourages men to take charge of their lung and heart health. Smoking remains one of the top preventable causes of death among men, but quitting, or even cutting back, has immediate benefits for energy, circulation, and endurance.
If you’re a parent, this is also a great time to talk with your kids about tobacco and vaping. Keep the tone open and supportive, and remember that modeling the message matters most, when kids see you make healthy changes, they’re more likely to follow.
🚭 Join our movement to help families build healthier habits. Become an Ambassador.
Impotence Education Month
This awareness effort helps normalize conversations about men’s sexual health, a topic often ignored or stigmatized. Changes in performance can be linked to stress, circulation, or other underlying health issues such as diabetes or heart disease.
The message this November: talk about it. Sexual health is part of overall well-being. Addressing it early helps protect not only your health but also your relationships and self-confidence.
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Tracking the Lifespan Gender Gap in Health Research
Recent analysis by exercise scientist James L. Nuzzo, Ph.D., revealed that “women’s health” has appeared 8.7 times more often than “men’s health” in biomedical research over the past 50 years. That’s a striking imbalance, and a call to action.
This research gap reflects decades of limited recognition for issues that disproportionately affect men, including heart disease, mental health, and suicide. The men’s health movement seeks to change that. By building empathy and awareness, we can create a more balanced, evidence-driven approach to health that includes both sexes equally.
Men’s Health Network continues to advocate for that change on Capitol Hill, in communities, and across the nation.
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Parenting and Relationships: A Timely Talk About Tobacco
“End Smoking Month” offers a great chance for parents to start open conversations that protect their children for life. Talking early and often about the risks of smoking and vaping helps kids make smarter choices before peer pressure or curiosity takes hold.
Keep the conversation honest. Ask what your child sees among friends or online. Explain how staying smoke-free supports their confidence, sports performance, and long-term health. And if your teens have already experimented, focus on understanding and support, not judgment.
When kids see parents taking care of their own health, they learn that change is possible and something to be proud of.
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Policy and Politics: Illinois Leads the Way on Men’s Health
In a groundbreaking move, Illinois has become the only state in the nation to formally establish a Division of Men’s Health within its Department of Public Health. Created through Public Act 102-0938, this division focuses on issues ranging from prostate and testicular cancer to mental health and violence prevention.
This landmark step reflects a growing recognition that men’s health deserves the same attention and structure as other public health priorities. Men’s Health Network applauds Illinois’ leadership and urges other states to follow its example.
📣 Help us advocate for similar policies across the country. Become an Ambassador.
Feature Story: Ambassadors of Change , Building Health Empathy Across America
Across the nation, everyday people are stepping up to make a difference. They’re teachers, coaches, veterans, fathers, business owners, and faith leaders, all united by one goal: improving men’s health in their communities.
These volunteers are part of the growing Men’s Health Ambassadorship Program, a movement that empowers individuals to bring awareness, empathy, and education to local communities. Ambassadors become the bridge between Men’s Health Network’s mission and the people who need it most.
Through national awareness months like Testicular Cancer Awareness (April), Men’s Health Month (June), and Prostate Cancer Awareness (September), Ambassadors help spread critical information, organize events, and inspire healthier lifestyles.
As Men’s Health Network Vice President Jennifer Thompson explains:
“Ambassadors are the bridge between our mission and the communities we serve. They embody empathy, leadership, and the action needed to move the men’s health movement forward.”
Being an Ambassador isn’t just volunteering; it’s leadership in action. It’s a way to spark change, connect with others, and play a vital role in closing the Lifespan Gender Gap, the fact that men, on average, die six years earlier than women.
🌍 If you believe in the power of empathy and community, now’s the time to act. Become an Ambassador today.
Get Involved
Every action counts. Whether you share a post, start a conversation, or donate, your support helps Men’s Health Network reach more men and families with life-saving information.
Here’s how you can help right now:
💙 Donate to Men’s Health Network , Your support funds educational materials, outreach, and awareness events nationwide.
🧠 Become a Men’s Health Ambassador , Lead by example and champion men’s health in your own community.
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