International Men’s Health Week 2025:
Lead with Empathy, Act with Purpose
June 9–15, 2025: International Men’s Health Week
All of June: Men’s Health Month
Friday, June 13: Wear Blue Day
Each year in June, communities across the globe come together to spotlight a critical but often overlooked issue: the health and well-being of men and boys. This week—International Men’s Health Week, taking place from June 9–15—is a key part of a broader campaign, Men’s Health Month, which has been federally recognized in the United States since 1994.
This year’s theme, “Bring Empathy Back: Men Fight Battles We Can’t Always See,” reflects a growing need to reframe how we talk about and treat men’s health—not as a side issue or a luxury, but as a public health priority grounded in compassion and care.
What Is International Men’s Health Week?
Originally launched by Men’s Health Network (MHN)—the nation’s oldest and most recognized nonprofit focused specifically on improving the health and well-being of men and boys—Men’s Health Week is part of a long-standing effort to bring visibility to men’s unique health challenges. The campaign began in 1994, and thanks to MHN’s persistent advocacy, both Men’s Health Week and Men’s Health Month are now nationally and internationally recognized periods of education, awareness, and action.
MHN didn’t stop there. Over the decades, the organization has played a vital role in expanding the scope of this movement.
Today, you can find men’s health organizations, coalitions, and partners in countries around the world who trace their origin or inspiration back to MHN’s early work. It is not an exaggeration to say that the international men’s health movement was seeded right here—through MHN’s leadership, dedication, and refusal to let men’s issues be ignored.
Why This Week—and This Movement—Matters
Men’s health does not exist in a vacuum. When men are healthy, they are more present and engaged in their roles as fathers, partners, workers, mentors, and friends. But when their health needs go unrecognized or untreated, the consequences ripple across families, workplaces, and entire communities.
The statistics are sobering:
- On average, men die six years earlier than women—and many of those deaths are preventable.
- Men are more likely to die from heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other chronic illnesses.
- Suicide rates are significantly higher in men, yet most mental health campaigns fail to reach them effectively.
- Preventive care remains underutilized by men, often due to stigma, lack of awareness, or cultural norms that discourage vulnerability.
Understanding the Empathy Gap
At the core of these outcomes lies what MHN calls “The Empathy Gap.” This term refers to the chronic neglect, underfunding, and lack of attention given to men’s health issues across the healthcare system, media, and policy spheres.
The Empathy Gap is not just about the absence of sympathy—it’s about lack of action.
Men are frequently expected to “tough it out,” to ignore pain or emotional distress, and to deprioritize their own health. These outdated beliefs continue to be embedded in social norms, healthcare delivery systems, and even public health funding.
This neglect is not just a men’s issue—it’s a societal issue.
Failing to care for men properly contributes to unstable families, economic loss, and preventable suffering. The Empathy Gap costs all of us.
The 2025 Theme: “Bring Empathy Back”
The 2025 campaign theme, “Bring Empathy Back: Men Fight Battles We Can’t Always See,” is more than a slogan—it’s a call to action.
This year, we’re asking the public to look past stereotypes and see the very real physical, emotional, and psychological battles that men face. We’re asking employers to implement workplace wellness initiatives that address men’s unique needs. We’re asking families to have honest conversations. We’re asking policymakers to prioritize research funding and health programs tailored to men and boys.
In short, we’re asking everyone to lead with empathy—and act with purpose.
How to Get Involved
The good news? You don’t need to be a healthcare professional or policy expert to make a difference.
There are simple, impactful ways to get involved:
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Download the Free Men’s Health Month Toolkit
Visit MensHealthMonth.org to access the official 2025 toolkit. It includes:
- Social media graphics and hashtags
- Sample blog posts and newsletter content
- Event ideas for schools, workplaces, and communities
- Proclamation templates for local leaders
- Guidelines for hosting your own “Wear Blue” Day
This digital resource was created by Men’s Health Network to make participation easy for individuals, organizations, and municipalities.
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Participate in Wear Blue Fridays
Every Friday in June, supporters are encouraged to wear blue to show their support for men’s health—particularly mental health. This includes Friday, June 13, the official Wear Blue Day during Men’s Health Week.
You can post photos using the hashtags #WearBlueFriday and #ShowUsYourBlue, start a conversation in your workplace, or use the opportunity to fundraise for men’s health programs.
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Share Resources
Use the talking points from the toolkit to start conversations about men’s health. Ask the men in your life when they last saw a doctor. Share resources about mental health support or screenings for prostate and testicular cancer.
One of the toolkit’s mottos says it best: “Start the conversation—because family health matters.”
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Advocate for Policy Change
Encourage your local, state, or federal representatives to support initiatives that address men’s health disparities. Men’s Health Network has been instrumental in pushing for the creation of an Office of Men’s Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—a goal that needs continued public support to become reality.
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Donate to the Cause
Supporting men’s health doesn’t just mean wearing a ribbon or posting on social media. Your donations to Men’s Health Network go directly toward educational outreach, community health programs, research advocacy, and public policy work that helps close the Lifespan Gender Gap.
You can donate at MensHealthNetwork.org/donate
Special Focus Areas This Week
Each day of Men’s Health Week brings a new theme designed to deepen engagement:
- Monday: Men & Mental Health
- Tuesday: Chronic Disease Management
- Wednesday: Lifespan Gender Gap
- Thursday: Family Support and Empathy
- Friday: Workplace Health & Wear Blue Day
- Saturday: Family History Awareness
- Sunday: Celebrating Fatherhood
Use these daily themes to guide your content, events, or conversations throughout the week.
Recognizing the Founders & Legacy
As we celebrate International Men’s Health Week, it’s important to recognize where it all began.
Men’s Health Network not only launched Men’s Health Week and Men’s Health Month—they laid the groundwork for a global movement. Their advocacy helped pass the original Congressional resolution in 1994, signed into law by President Bill Clinton, establishing Men’s Health Week as a national observance. From there, they created the infrastructure, messaging, and coalition-building that gave rise to what is now an international health campaign.
Today, MHN continues to lead with integrity, vision, and passion—reaching men “where they live, work, play, and pray.”
Their work is a reminder that meaningful change starts with a clear mission and a relentless commitment to serve.
Let’s Close the Gap—Together
International Men’s Health Week is not just a recognition—it’s a responsibility. A responsibility to acknowledge the very real disparities men face, and a chance to do something about it.
Let’s not let another year pass without change. Let’s make empathy actionable.
This week—and all of June—support the men and boys in your life. Encourage screenings. Share resources. Talk openly. And most of all, lead with empathy.
🔗 Learn more, download the toolkit, and get involved today: MensHealthMonth.org
#MensHealthWeek #MensHealthMonth #TheEmpathyGap #SupportMensHealth #WearBlueFriday #StartTheConversation
