Why we need National Male Health Policy
Bernard Denner… Health Educator/Men’s Health Advocate Centre for Advancement of Men’s Health (CAMH)
Male Health requires the structure of a Government National Male Health Policy because National Mortality and Morbidity Rate of males in countries across the globe demonstrate a rate of premature death amongst men that is unacceptable but is preventable. “Most people assume that men, by virtue of their economic advantages in society, must be correspondingly healthy. Those of us who look at health statistics know, however that being male is a risk factor for premature mortality from infancy through to old age. There is increasing recognition of this issue, but little yet in the way of progress”. In 1994 Bernard Denner, founder of the Australian Centre for Advancement of Men’s Health (CAMH) developed the Man Model of Health Promotion to develop strategies to support men understand their health and take responsibility for their health outcomes.
WHY DO WE NEED A NATIONAL MALE HEALTH POLICY?
A National Strategic Framework for Men’s Health will acknowledge men’s health as a national health priority based on the mortality and morbidity status of men
There is epidemiological evidence that men have a shorter life expectancy than women, access health care less frequently and respond differently to life stresses· Many of the factors contributing to the poorer health status for men are preventable and can be addressed in the community setting · Stereotypes held by society and men themselves, present barriers to men when responding to their individual health needs · Recognition that men need Programs that they feel will provide a result and outcome.
A Strategic Framework for Men’s Health incorporating a National Men’s Health Strategy will provide men with opportunities to address their issues.
In Australia, like other Western World economies, men like women and children need to have their health specifically addressed in relation to gender health issues but also in relation to geographical location, service availability and utilization.
The MAN Model of Health Promotion was designed on the premise that a
Health Education strategy will create a greater understanding of the issues and risks associated with maleness. It is important to recognize that men are different and that their needs are different. Recognizing that men are different provides Health Practitioners with a greater ability to achieve results for the wider community of men impacting on their general health and well-being. A National Male Health Policy will set a framework and strategy that will provide the Health Industry with a direction based on best practice models that attract men to act in dealing with male health issues in a similar way as women deal with women’s health issues. Men’s health has to be accepted as part of the general health of family within a specific framework that recognizes that an outcome of healthier and happier men make better partners and fathers. Australia, United Sates and Great Britain lead the way in providing a process by which men can have a greater understanding of their health and this now needs to be supported by policy. The time is over where men were regarded as ‘lazy’ in regard to being proactive about their health and programs for men were a waste of time. There is enough evidence, support from men and commitment from the general health industry to men’s health. Enough is enough and enough ‘just talk’ from governments. Men deserve and families deserve a better health outcome for men through structured government health policy for males. Now is the time for governments to act.
