Spotlight on: Men's Health Week
15 Jun 2023
Men’s Health Week is an international event with the aim of raising awareness and improving access to the information, services and treatment needed to maintain physical and mental health
Men’s Health Week takes place this year from 12 - 18 June. This annual event is organised by the Men's Health Forum and aims to raise awareness of preventable health problems that disproportionately affect men.
The key question the Men’s Health Forum is posing this year is: what impact does the internet have on men's health? There are some health benefits from being able to access the internet, such as accessing health information, receiving health services online, staying connected with friends and family, but what are some of the downsides? We can be overly connected to phones and other devices, scrolling through the internet and apps, finding our attention diverted away from more meaningful parts of our life. Which can have an impact on our mental health and wellbeing, relationships, money and work.
The Men’s Health Forum’s message this week is:
- If you think you're spending too much time on your tech (and even if you don't), take a screen break and try the CAN DO challenge instead. The free CAN DO Manual can help.
- The CAN DO challenge alone will benefit your mental wellbeing but if you want to give your mind a fuller MOT, get the Man MOT For The Mind manual.
- There's evidence that some addictions which particularly affect men have been made worse by 24/7 internet and smartphones. If you're concerned about your gambling or porn use, check out new manuals Wanna Bet: gambling and men's health and Porn Free: pornography and men's health.
The conversation of men’s health extends beyond this week and there are many helpful sources of support at our University and from other external services.
StaffNet Wellbeing pages
There is a wealth of information and resources located on the staff wellbeing webpages. You can also find out about our regular wellbeing events, financial wellbeing support, our wellbeing rooms on campus, Wellbeing Champions and our staff networks.
Validium Employee Assistance Programme
All colleagues have access to the university Employee Assistance Programme. Validium are a specialist external provider of staff wellbeing and mental health support services. Support is free and anonymous.
Andys Man Club
Andys Man Club are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. They have over 120 free support groups nationwide, running every Monday from 7pm except bank holidays. In these groups, men can open up about the storms affecting their lives in a safe, judgement-free and non-clinical environment. Their clubs are designed to be free of pressure, there is no obligation for men to speak, they can simply listen if they wish. They operate many groups in Greater Manchester - find your nearest group.
Men’s Health Forum
The Men’s Health Forum is full of helpful guides, manuals and information on important men’s health topics such as Prostate cancer, Stress, Depression, Heart Health, Diabetes and many more.
We want to hear from you
The Wellbeing team would like to hear from you about men’s health topics you would like to see our University talking about and provide opportunities to learn and understand more. Please email wellbeing@manchester.ac.uk