Men need a health WoF

Getting men out from under their car bonnets and thinking about a WoF check for their bodily engines is a challenge that is inspiring a new, more positive approach from health professionals.

“Men can be portrayed as not looking after themselves and that can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. We need to flip that around and look at it from a more positive perspective,” says Dr Stephen Neville, a Massey University (Auckland) researcher specialising in ‘vulnerable people, men’s health and older person’s health’.

Dr Neville is also on the NZ Cancer Society’s advisory committee for men’s health and he applauds what he calls a ‘strength-based perspective’ towards raising awareness among men.

“Rather than hitting men over the head and telling them they need to do something about themselves, we need to look at men’s strengths and provide primary health care appropriate to men’s needs,” he explains.

Dr Neville believes that these initiatives can be as simple as making doctor’s surgeries more man-friendly with larger chairs, appropriate magazines (fewer women’s mags) and a better mix of men’s health brochures – as well as those on women’s and children’s health matters.

“Women, especially those with children, and anyone with a chronic illness has plenty of opportunities to engage with their doctors, but we need to encourage men into preventative health measures rather than have a disease-focus approach,” says Dr Neville.

Meanwhile Age Concern New Zealand has run a number of free, no-appointment ‘Men’s Health Checkups’ in local shopping malls and community centres throughout the country and is keen to see this concept extended, depending on local resources.

Trained professionals conduct blood pressure and blood sugar checks with appropriate follow-up advice, supported by male volunteers handing out brochures.

Dr Neville, who is 49, is heartened by greater media presence on men’s issues, such as the ‘Movember’ prostate awareness campaign and corporate initiatives to bring in speakers on men’s health.

Men out walking with their partners, and cycling in groups is positive as well. Dr Neville’s own commitment to his well-being includes getting together every Friday morning for breakfast with a group of male friends who met five years ago through the gym.

“It’s important to make time for social connections such as this,” says Dr Neville.

Age Concern    www.ageconcern.org.nz