International Men's Health Week is being celebrated this week (12-18 June) and aims to highlight the importance of men's health, and to promote and support the health and wellbeing of men and boys in our communities.
Men's Health Week focuses on not just physical health, but also men's mental health and emotional wellbeing.
During the week, the health challenges faced by men in Australia and worldwide are highlighted and events run that can be replicated year-round to improve the physical, emotional and mental health of men and boys.
Through a series of promotions, events and publicity around the country, Men's Health Week is designed to provoke thought and discussion about what needs to be done to improve male health.
Men’s Health Week is coordinated by the Centre for Male Health at Western Sydney University.
The centre says: “Our close connections with community and government organisations across Australia enable us to develop the kinds of networks and partnerships that bring together people who care about better health for men and boys.”
Men's Health Week works on the understanding that the best people to improve men's health in Australia are those who live, work and engage with men and boys in communities around the country.
The theme of Men's Health Week 2023 is Healthy Habits- focusing on encouraging men and boys to build healthy habits by identifying small changes they can make that benefit their health and wellbeing.
Men's Health Week was started in the United States by the US Congress in 1994 to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.
In Australia, there were small and localised Men's Health Week events in Victoria and then in NSW from about 2000 onwards. Since then, Men’s Health Week has gained traction, with organisations and community groups across the world celebrating the contributions men and boys make to society.
In Australia, Men’s Health Week provides a platform for challenging and debating key issues in men’s health and to raise the profile of men, their health outcomes and health needs around the country each June.
