18 Jun Men’s Health Week 15th-21st June 2020

International Men’s Health Week 2020

As a leading labour hire agency we tend to work with a lot of men and as it’s International Men’s Health Week we think it’s important to highlight it to all of our labourers out on sites throughout Sydney and to the crew in the office. The aim of the annual Men’s Health Week is to raise awareness of men’s health issues and encourage men to take control of their health both physically & mentally. Even though the event only lasts for one week a year we thought it would be a good idea to reinforce several statistics and information we’ve learnt from it. With men’s life expectancy in Australia shorter than that of women and men suffering higher rates of illness, accidents and suicides it is important to take a look at what you can do to improve your health and the health of the men around you.

Men’s Health In Australia

In 2019 the Australian Men’s Health Forum (AMHF) released a report on the state of men’s health in the country with a key takeaway being that the life expectancy of men being is reported to be on average 6 years less than women. The report found that:

• 4 times more men under 65 die from more heart disease than women the same age.
• 1 in 3 men die of cancer compared to 1 in 4 women.
• 3 in 4 suicides are men (with 6 men and 2 women dying each day on average).
• 93% of workplace fatalities are men.
• 3 in 4 road fatalities are male, with 3 males a day dying in road accidents.

Mental Health in Construction

The construction industry in Australia employees more than 650,000 people making it one of the biggest employers in the country. According to recent reports:

• Construction workers are more than twice as likely to suicide as other people in Australia.
• Construction workers are six times more likely to die by suicide than through a workplace accident.
• Apprentices in construction are two and a half times more likely to suicide than other young men their age.
• 21% of workers in the construction industry were shown to have had a mental health condition.
• 9% of construction workers have a condition affecting their mood, such as depression.

How Can You Improve Your Health?

There are a variety of steps you can (and should) take to start to improve your health. But, we’re no doctors – we provide skilled labourers, plumbers, scaffolders and the likes – and medical advice is not our forte so, if you do have any health concerns, please make sure you get yourself to a doctor pronto.

Diet: Following a healthy diet is one of the biggest factors in improving all-round general health. Even for people at a healthy weight, a poor diet is associated with major health risks and can cause illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. By following a healthy balanced diet you can reduce the risk of these health problems. Planning your weekly meals and bringing lunch to work is one way to avoid picking up an unhealthy lunch at work

Exercise: Regular exercise goes hand in hand with living a healthy life. Some of the many benefits of training regularly are weight lose/weight control, reduced risk of heart disease, improved mental health and it strengthens bones and muscles. Walking, running, cycling and weight training are all great ways to exercise and joining a local sports club (like Sydney Irish for example) is a great way to get started at a new hobby.

Alcohol: Alcohol in moderation along with a healthy diet and regular exercise can be part of a healthy lifestyle but drinking too much can affect both your mental and physical health. Guidelines recommend drinking no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 in one day.

Smoking: Smoking affects your cardiovascular system and also your respiratory system. It can also lead to cancer. Quitting smoking will immediately improve your overall health and your body will work to recover from the damage caused by smoking.

Doctors: Studies show that men are less likely to visit doctors with 40% only going when they are suffering from a serious condition. Regular visits to your local GP can help detect any medical conditions early and ensure you stay at your healthiest.

Men’s Health Week 2020 – Check on a Friend

Men’s Health Week 2020 is a great time to check in on your friends, family, colleagues, employees and teammates and encourage them to address any health concerns they have with their doctor or get in for that overdue check-up. But remember it is essential to care for your own and your close males’ health for the other 51 weeks of the year.