She'll be right mate
She’ll be right mate!
Men’s health week is an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of men & boys around the country. This week is about showing the Australian community the state of male health in all its forms for a week every June.
So why is there an emphasis on the health of boys & men?
What’s that about?
Surely, she’ll be right?
In many cases, the answer is no.
A boy born in Australia has a life expectancy of 78 years, while a baby girl born at the same time could expect to live to 82 years of age.
Being a new father myself, this starts to hit differently, understanding right from the start, boys suffer more illness, more accidents and die earlier than their female counterparts.
Men take their own lives at a rate of four times greater then that of women (that’s five men a day, on average).
Accidents, cancer and heart disease all account for the majority of male deaths.
The above figures are taken from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and illustrate the alarming disparity between male/females for many causes of death.
Men's Health Week has a direct focus on the health impacts of men's and boys' environments. It serves to ask two questions:
What factors in men's and boy's environments contribute to the status of male health as indicated in the table above?
How can we turn that around and create positive environments in men's and boy's lives?
WEALTH SECURES HEALTH
However, as financial advisors we need to play our part.
As wealth secures health!
Studies have shown a positive correlation between good health and higher income. That is people who earn more money tend to have less disease and better health, overall. Poor health and higher rates of disease are associated more with those in lower income groups.
As you move up the socioeconomic status hierarchy, your health prospects continue to improve.
Why that happens is the million dollar question.
Psychologists are working to find the answer. Using new methodological strategies they are trying to figure out how a constellation of economic, social and work factors together known as socioeconomic status affects health.
Those living in low-income households are less likely to have health insurance or access to medications and treatments that can treat chronic health conditions. Low-income families also have less access to preventative and speciality care.
It’s no surprise that individuals with higher income can afford gym memberships and have more time for improving their physical health. In addition, those with wealth my not be afraid to seek medical advice for fear of cost or outcome. We also know that nutritious food, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, cost more than calorie-dense, inexpensive, ready-to-eat meals.
We are here to support men in their quest to improve their mental and physical health.
However, in our experience men do not like to ask for help.
Whether that is going to see a doctor for a check up, see a dentist, see a personal trainer, or even ask for directions.
We see this with financial advice too!
Over 90% of our enquiries are from women seeking help.
Men don’t like asking for help.
Men are less likely to reach out for health-related support. One survey showed that twice as many men don’t visit their family doctor compared to women. More women get skin cancer than men, but more men die from it. This indicates men are seeking help much later than women which is having a serious impact on their health.
The fundamental reason men don’t ask for help is that they have learnt not to. They have slowly and systemically learnt that asking for help is not acceptable. What is acceptable is being like the men who have come before them; autonomous, self-reliant, stoic and independent. Their sense of identity is steeped in the good, strong, independent man who is the lone wolf. And the lone wolf goes it alone.
The rhetoric goes like this.
Ask for help = Unable to help yourself = Helpless = Victim = Weak
Studies show that asking for help makes you happier, healthier, more successful and have better relationships.
So why do so many men refuse support and go it alone in life?
So if your finances are becoming a physical or mental burden – reach out and ask for help.
Alternatively, if you are looking for clarity, direction and advice on your financial situation and understand you could be doing more, but have been afraid to ask for help – reach out to our team.
We have made it easy for men.
You do not even have to pick up the phone to make an appointment.
You can book online to arrange a time that suits you.
When you seek support – she will be right mate!
*for any male that reaches out this week – we will waive the engagement fee – to remove any barrier in asking for advice.
Sources:
https://www.menshealthweek.org.au/health-info/why-men-s-health
https://menshealthfoundation.ca/
https://www.youtube.com/user/aboutmenshealth/videos
https://theinspiringmenproject.com/reasons-men-dont-ask-help/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/mental-health-nerd/201911/men-are-afraid-ask-help