The Facts

Each hour 4 men die from conditions that are potentially preventable and men live on average 5 years less than women.

Heart disease is the number one killer in men. Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in Australia, after lung cancer.

In Australia, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. More men die of prostate cancer than women die of breast cancer.

At all ages men experience higher mortality rates than women for cancers, diabetes mellitus, and diseases of the circulatory system. 74% of alcohol related deaths occur in men and more than two thirds of Australian men are overweight or obese. 1 in 8 men experience depression and 1 in 5 men will experience anxiety at some stage in their life.

Significant numbers of male-related health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, infertility, colon cancer and depression, could be detected and treated more effectively if men’s awareness of these problems was greater.

Through raising awareness an opportunity exists to improve the current health status of men.

An excellent Men’s Health ToolKit,  supported by the proceeds from #MHABall, is available that outlines what to look out for in your 20s, 30s, 40s. 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s+.

The Men’s Health Awareness Ball is held during International Men’s Health Week, which  is celebrated every year around the world in the middle of June. It is an important opportunity to highlight the importance of men’s health, and to promote and support the health and wellbeing of men and boys in our communities.

Men’s Health Week focuses on not just physical health, but also men’s mental health and emotional wellbeing. During the week, we highlight the health challenges faced by men in Australia and worldwide and run events such as the Ball-to improve the physical, emotional and mental health of men and boys.

Through a series of promotions, events and publicity around the country, Men’s Health Week is designed to provoke thought and discussion about what needs to be done to improve male health.

During Men’s Health Week, communities across Australia reach out to men, boys and their families to promote health and wellbeing through engaging activities, events and promotions. These events create the right setting for conversations about the elements that make us healthy – life, purpose, health and wellness and everything in-between.

Men’s Health Week is our week of conversation, reflection and action on what issues impact on the health of blokes in our community – and doing something that makes things better.