Press release date [18/11/2021]
Men, on average, die five years younger than women for reasons which are entirely preventable if we take the right action.
EnsuriNg that we look after our physical and mental health is important to living long and fulfilling lives. With suicide the leading killer of men under 50, we need to work to overcome the stigma associated with men’s mental health without forgetting that we all need to be open about our physical health too.
Here are five things that we can do to make sure we try and get those extra five years…
Talk more
We aren’t always comfortable with opening up about our challenges. It’s really important to make sure that you reach out to people that you know care about you, so that you can talk about what you are going through. This could really help to make you feel better and could even save your life.
Sometimes, things can overwhelm us. If this happens it’s vital that you reach out to your GP if you feel that you are down for an extended period of time.
You can find out more about NHS mental health services here.
Know your stuff
Early detection of things like prostate cancer could save your life. To detect it early, you need to know what you are looking for. Things like needing to rush to the toilet, blood in your urine or semen, or even just needing to pee more often, could be a sign that you have prostate cancer. It might be nothing…but it’s best to see your GP if you notice a change.
You can find out more about prostate cancer here .
Stay connected
We all live busy lives but we need to make sure that we stay connected. Your mates are important and spending time with people is good for you. Make sure that you are always checking in and catching up regularly.
Make sure that you’re stimulated intellectually too. Getting lost in a book or a podcast can help you to escape – focus or your hobbies and interests as well.
Know your nuts
Testicular cancer is the number one cancer amongst men – so it’s really important to know what’s normal for you. The best thing to do is to check them at least once a month, so that you know what’s normal and if there are any changes.
If you aren’t sure, you can find more information on what they should look and feel like here
Let’s keep moving
Keeping active doesn’t just improve your physical fitness; it helps improve your mental fitness too. Simply going for a walk around the block for 30 minutes every day can improve your mood and help you keep fit.
Find out more about how you can keep active here.
