The International Men’s Health Week is an annual event that is held around the world. The Men’s Health Network led six leading men’s health organizations from around the world during a meet in Vienna, Austria in 2002 and they resolved to work as a unit in increasing awareness of men’s health issues. In addition, the group resolved to encourage intra and inter-national institutions in developing health policies and services that meet the needs of men, boys and their families.
During the Men’s Health Week, to be held from June 12 to 18 2017, communities across the world are expected to come together and create engaging and fun events, activities and promotions aimed at increasing the awareness of the needs of boys and men. The events are focused on maintaining and improving the health of the male members of the society, while having meaningful conversations related to body and mind health.
The Beginning
Men’s Health Week is a creation by Congress in 1994 as a response to increasing awareness of preventable health issues, while encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among male members of the community. The bill, sponsored by former Congressman Bill Richardson and former Senator Bob Dole, is a means of bringing in a significant shift from treatment to prevention in disease control. The week involves increasing public awareness and spreading information on disease prevention through nationwide screenings and events.
How to Participate
One way to participate in the event in your workplace is by encouraging both male and female employees to support the day by:
- Choosing a day in the week to celebrate a the men’s health week
- Set an amount of money you would like to raise, so that you have something to go for
- Choose blue as the color-code for the day; from blue accessories, head to toe blue work attire or just give staff members an excuse to go casual, whatever works for your employees
- Let your group members choose whether they would like to wear blue or whatever amount of money they would like to donate
- You can also sell blue prostate cancer pins as support of fighting against prostate cancer
Show your customers and others what you have accomplished by posting photos of your event to your social media channels. In addition, to doing the above you could also consider some of the following suggestions:
- Plan a health fair that can be held in the workplace, hospitals, churches or community centers
- Plan a mini health fair by asking a local health educator, doctor or nurse to give a short lecture related to men’s health
- Plan a fundraiser for MHN’s prostate cancer outreach efforts
- Create awareness for men’s health through bringing together your neighbors or coworkers through walking, tennis, bowling, bicycling or even hiking.
How to Participate at Home
Whether it is your spouse, boyfriend, dad, brother or friend, show that you care about their health by wearing blue. If the last Friday of the Men’s Health Week will not work for you, then pick a date and have fun wearing blue all day. Use the Wear Blue day to escalate awareness on money for education related to regular checkups, testicular cancer education, skin cancer, lung cancer, gout, cardiovascular disease and more.
Remember, men are living sicker and dying younger. Wearing blue was created to raise awareness on the importance of men’s health and to encourage men to actively seek living longer, healthier lives. The response to this event has been overwhelming and thousands of people are actively participating in awareness activities in the U.S. and all over the world.