LONDON, November 21, 2022–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November is Men’s Health Awareness Month with Movember and the globally recognized International Men’s Day, both highlighting the importance of supporting men’s health and well-being. To mark these key calendar dates, International SOS is sharing tips on how organizations can raise awareness of physical and mental health issues among men and encourage early detection and treatment of illnesses.
Overall, life expectancy for men is lower than for women1 and attitudes towards health care and how people perceive preventive measures to be effective may differ by gender. For example, on average, men (75.9%) were found to be less likely than women (84.2%) to believe that COVID-19 measures, including social distancing and mask-wearing, were effective. to prevent the spread of the virus. When faced with the same disease, men are less likely than women to take a proactive approach to seeking care2.
Dr Rodrigo-Rodriguez Fernandez, Global Health, Wellness and Mental Health Advisor, EMEA Practice, Consulting & Solutions at International SOS, said: “Common health issues affecting men include heart disease, diabetes, lung and prostate cancer. In fact, more than 1.4 million men worldwide are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year.3. Many factors can contribute to these conditions, including lifestyle choices, diet, and cardiovascular fitness. Regular health check-ups can help detect certain medical conditions at an early stage and promote positive lifestyle changes to improve well-being.”
Dr Rodrigo-Rodriguez Fernandez continued: “Notions and stereotypes of masculinity can also be harmful to men’s health. The stigma attached to illnesses and men seeing illness as a weakness are often the reasons why men do not talk about their health problems. Given these traditional practices, societal pressures and stigma, it is crucial to continue to focus on men’s health and wellbeing in all organizations and workplaces. Employers must create healthy and fair work environments and facilitate access to gender-sensitive medical support and counselling.
Although both men and women can experience their share of mental health issues, in general, men are less likely to disclose their mental health issues to family members or friends.4. With a high number of the workforce at risk of experiencing such issues, employers are uniquely placed to drive change and empower men to seek the support and treatment they need.
Employers can provide expert advice with a high level of anonymity, training for team leaders to recognize signs of mental illness and creating a safe space for conversation. This kind of support can help improve the lives of many men struggling with mental health issues. A simple gesture like participating in and supporting awareness events such as Movember and International Men’s Day also helps organizations create a work culture where conversations about mental health issues are encouraged and supported.
Top tips for organizations to support men’s health and wellbeing at work:
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Encourage regular health examination to help detect certain medical problems in the early stages.
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Provide employees with anonymous access to mental health and wellness support which is gender sensitive.
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Create safe spaces for employees to have a conversation about men’s mental health issues and talk about their mental health.
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Make employee well-being central to the line responsibilities of the manager position and provide them with the time, resources and training to recognize the early signs and symptoms of mental illness.
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To be implicated in world events such as International Men’s Day and Movember and focus on improving men’s health and well-being.
About the International SOS Group of Companies
The International SOS Group of Companies is on a mission to save lives and protect your global workforce from health and safety threats. Wherever you are, we provide personalized health, safety risk management and wellness solutions to fuel your growth and productivity. In the event of extreme weather conditions, an epidemic or a security incident, we provide an immediate response with complete peace of mind. Our innovative technology and medical and safety expertise focus on prevention, delivering real-time actionable insights and quality delivery in the field. We help protect your people, your organization’s reputation, and meet your compliance reporting needs. By partnering with us, organizations can fulfill their due diligence responsibilities, while building business resilience, continuity and sustainability.
Founded in 1985, the International SOS Group, headquartered in London and Singapore, is trusted by 9,500 organizations, including the majority of the Fortune Global 500 as well as midsize businesses, governments, institutions of education and NGOs. 13,000 multicultural security, medical, logistics and digital experts are on your side to provide support and assistance from more than 1,000 locations in 90 countries, 24/7/365 .
To protect your workforce, we are at your disposal: www.internationalsos.com
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contacts
Media contact
Alexis Harding, Group Head of PR & Communications, London
Email: alexis.harding@internationalsos.com
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