Men’s Health Week 2023

It's Men's Health Week. This week serves as a powerful reminder to prioritise your health and well-being, encouraging open conversations, raising awareness, and promoting positive actions for your physical, mental and emotional health.

It is crucial to recognise the importance of taking care of ourselves in order to lead fulfilling lives and be there for our loved ones. This Men’s Health Week, the EEAST Men's Wellbeing Network invites each and every one of you to join us in embracing the journey towards better health.

Throughout this week, we will share small challenges and initiatives to support you in your health goals. 

Day 1: Prioritise your health

Prioritising men’s health ensures the overall physical well-being of individuals. It involves taking care of the body through regular exercise, a balanced diet and preventive health care measures. Good physical health enables men to lead active and fulfilling lives.

Today’s challenge: commit to at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. It can include walking, jogging, cycling, swimming or any form of exercise that you enjoy.

As part of the awareness week, Men’s Health Forum will also be running two webinars.

• Men and online harms - the Forum's webinar with Dr Marcus Maloney from Coventry University. Marcus leads a discussion on 'Boys, men, and ‘toxic’ communities': Tuesday 13th June at 2pm on Zoom. Register via this link. (The full Coventry University report of which Marcus's work forms a part is here: Post-digital Intimacies for Online Safety.) Martin Tod and Jim Pollard from the Forum will introduce Men's Health Week.
• Dr Hilary Jones - the Forum's website editor Jim Pollard interviews the GP in the Royal Voluntary Service's Virtual Village Hall: Thursday 15th June at 11am on Zoom. Register via this link (on Facebook)

 

We would like to remind everyone that Wellbeing support is available to those who need it.

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
You, or your immediate family, can contact the EAP to discuss all types of personal issues (financial, parenting, caring and so on), on a confidential basis. Call the Employee Assistance Programme on 0808 196 2374.

24 hour 'In-Crisis' Support Line
When life gets too tough: you don’t know what to do or who to turn to, call the 24 hour 'In-Crisis' Line on 0300 373 0898.

Headspace 
Headspace is the mindfulness and meditation app and is available for staff across EEAST to download for free and provides unique tools and resources to help reduce stress and anxiety.

Mind 
The mental health charity has a number of resources which you can access on their website.

Anxiety UK 
Advice and support for people living with anxiety. Call the helpline on 03444 775 774.

 

Some online resources:

Men's Health Forum

Men and mental health | Mental Health Foundation

Samaritans

Prostate Cancer UK

 

If you would like to join the Men’s Wellbeing Network, or would like to find out more, please email MWN@eastamb.nhs.uk or visit the Men’s Wellbeing Network East24 page.

Wishing you a healthy and fulfilling Men’s health Week and beyond.

Men’s Wellbeing Network

Published 12th June 2023