info5

Information Bulletin No 5

Why is Men's Health in Poor Shape?

Why is it that men die six years younger than women?
Why are eighty percent of suicides male?
Why do so many men suffer substance abuse and behavioural issues?

Background to Men's State of Heal

It stems from our current western culture. Studies show that baby boys are touched less than baby girls. The conditioning of boys is tougher than girls from birth.

Boys are raised to societies norms, dictating they must be tough and strong. Competition is very significant from an early age and is reinforced in the schoolyard with survival of the fittest or strongest. Visit any pre-school or primary school and you will see this for yourself. Boys isolate themselves to appear tough and strong. As such, they do not know as well as they could how to tolerate or empathise.

This leads to the boy becoming a man without the perceived freedom to release emotions in a natural manner. Some protect themselves by becoming addicted to substances such as tobacco, caffeine and alcohol whilst others pursue dangerous risk taking activities, excessive work, corporate raiding, competitive sports or hobbies. All are used as a release. Others retract emotionally and just close down and/or become awkward with other people.
We all know men who exhibit any number of the above characteristics. Others, at the extreme end of the scale, explode in a release of locked up feelings in a manner that threatens others eg Port Arthur shootings.

The current state of men's health leads to a loss of productivity in the workplace and possible accidents through worker inattention. This generates considerable overheads with sick leave and workers compensation payments. These issues can be addressed and the state of men's health and their work productivity will improve dramatically.

Quotation:

"How you respond to the challenge after the decision to change your life has been made, will determine whether you achieve or fail to achieve your goals."

Richard Curtin

What is required to bring about change

These issues can be addressed and the state of men’s health and their work productivity will improve dramatically.

The process to bring about change to your male worker’s health involves a manager undertaking the following:

Becoming aware of the issues, behaviours and conditioning that affect health and wellbeing;

To recognise that these behaviours are destructive to good living, communication and work productivity; and

To commit and take action to bring about real change.

Quotation:

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Lau Tzu

I have researched and worked with many of the issues relating to men's health. The comments contained in this information sheet apply to the majority of males. I am aware of these issues, I know how to recognise them and to address them. This knowledge can be passed on to skill your managers in recognising the issues in your male workers and thus assist them in becoming more productive in their work.

Quotation:

"One man cannot do right in one department of life whilst he is occupiedin doing wrong in another department. Life is one indivisible whole."

Gandhi

Please contact Graeme Alford, Principal Executive/Life Coach, for further information.