Healthy Man, Happy Man - Simple

Addressing Men's Health

News articles have reported that happiness can help to keep your heart healthy.  Here at RSPH we advocate a similar view, in that by looking after your health and wellbeing, not only will you feel great but you will be happier too.

As Men’s Health Week is only round the corner (11^th-17^th June) we wanted to highlight the issues surrounding the gender health inequalities experienced by many men and why men’s health is a critical issue that needs to be addressed.

The statistics show that 22% of men are dying before the age of 64 compared to 13% of women.  Men are more likely than women to die from cancer, have heart problems, be obese or overweight, smoke, drink high levels of alcohol and have poorer diets.  Additionally, men are also 20% less likely than women to seek health services or visit GPs.

In the challenge to improve men’s health and to continue the ethos that a healthy heart really does equal a happy man, family and community, the RSPH have developed an innovative Men’s Health programme to be held on Tuesday 12^th June.

The one day event, which is supported by the Men’s Health Forum, aims to increase health and community practitioners’ understanding of how gender socialisation and masculinity can affect male health beliefs and behaviour.   The course will seek to increase awareness of the main health problems affecting men and barriers men face in using health services.   By identifying appropriate ways to engage men in healthy lifestyle initiatives and increasing male service access, we become closer to reducing existing gender health inequalities.  For further information or to book onto the course please click here or contact Nicolette Boustaoui

*Promotion of the month* To help you with any financial situations you may be experiencing, we are now offering the Men’s Health programme at a discounted rate of £175.  

Good Mental Health holds the key to long term wellbeing

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has brought together experts from across the whole field of Mental Health in a thought provoking seminar on the role of Mental Health in the New Public Health System.

The passing of the Health and Social Care Act, the drive towards localism, and the Government’s approach to improving the population’s health through promotion of preventative measures, have begun to place mental health in the spotlight. 

The purpose of the seminar was to examine the impact of mental health on public health and wellbeing and its place within public health policy. The evidence shows that mental health and overall wellbeing can no longer be treated as separate challenges; they are closely interlinked and poor mental health affects a wide range of social and broader health issues.

The panel of speakers brought together statistics to show how poor Mental Health affects communities, and encouraging examples of effective methods and guidance tools, being used to assess the impact of change on the mental wellbeing of all stakeholders. 

Professor Richard Parish, Chief Executive of RSPH commented, “Mental health must be a top priority for Health and Wellbeing Boards.  Poor mental health has a huge impact on local communities and is a heavy cost to the NHS and local authorities.  The RSPH is delighted to have run a seminar designed to improve the effectiveness of local mental health strategies. We believe that positive changes can be achieved by sharing good practice and better collaboration between local councils, Third Sector organisations, and the NHS".

The speakers at the seminar included Professor Lord Patel of Bradford, Gregor Henderson, advisor to the Department of Health England on Mental Health and Wellbeing, Dr Jonathan Campion, Consultant Psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Tony Coggins, Head of Mental Health Promotion at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Graham Rushbrook FRSPH and Professor Richard Parish, Chief Executive of RSPH.

If you would like more information on the seminar, please contact Nelly Araujo at RSPH.

Email naraujo@rsph.org.uk or telephone 020 7265 7322.

Research into attitudes to children’s food and obesity prevention 

RSPH is working with The School Food Trust to investigate how public health professionals view the issues around children’s food and obesity prevention. As the landscape for public health is changing, it is vital that children’s health and wellbeing continues to attract focus and funding, and for this reason we are keen to hear from colleagues who are responsible for commissioning children’s healthy eating programmes including school meals.

Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CFT_health) about attitudes to children’s food and obesity prevention and one organisation will win a free training programme from The School Food Trust.

We will share the results of our work over the coming months, and if you are responsible for commissioning these services and would be prepared to take part in a more detailed telephone interview, please email Gina Mohajer (gmohajer@rsph.org.uk) or phone her on  020 7265 7327