Introduction:

“Recognizing and preventing men's health problems is not just a man's issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men's health is truly a family issue."
Congressman Bill Richardson (Congressional Record, H3905-H3906, May 24, 1994)

Men’s Health

During Bernard Denner’s visit to Goldfields women were offered the opportunity to learn about men’s health, with an information night held on the 11th of August at the Railway Function Centre.

The purpose of the session was to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. It was also designed for women to learn how to get men to take more responsibility for their own health.

Objectives of the Session:

• To increase or reinforce Goldfields women’s understanding of health issues affecting men.
• To increase Goldfields women’s awareness of how to avoid separation with romance and communication.
• To raise Goldfields women’s knowledge of techniques to encourage their partner to take responsibility for their own health.
• To provide Goldfields women with health resources to distribute to Goldfields men.

Results:
The evening was attended by 52 women and 2 men. The following is a summary of the 43 evaluations completed at the conclusion of the session.

SUMMARY :

Participants ranking of the top 10 listed health issues
1. Blood pressure
2. Workplace stress
3. Depression
4. Relationships
5. Cancer
6. Anxiety/Stress
7. Prostate cancer
8. Cholesterol
9. Mental health Issues
10. Alcohol use

As a result of the session, participants ranked the following suggested options:

51% of participants will encourage their partner to have a romantic weekend.
44% of participants will encourage their partner to have more quality time together.
40% of participants will encourage their partner to increase exercise.
40% of participants will encourage their partner to work on relationships.
37% of participants will encourage their partner to relax more.
35% of participants will encourage their partner to see a GP.

Using a self rating scale to the question of ‘What makes you feel depressed or ordinary?’ participants considered 3 areas; relationships, sex and work.

Relationships
26% of participants indicated that relationships with their partner made them feel ordinary.
23% participants indicated that relationships with themselves makes them feel ordinary.
14% participants indicated that relationships with their children makes them feel ordinary.
12% participants indicated that relationships with their ex partner makes them feel ordinary.

37% of participants are happy with their relationships.

Sex
26% of participants indicated that lack of intimacy/love makes them feel ordinary.
21% of participants indicated that lack of good sex makes them feel ordinary.
12% of participants indicated that lack of opportunity makes them feel ordinary.
9% of participants indicated that lack of sex makes them feel ordinary.
7% of participants indicated that inability to perform makes them feel ordinary.

47% of participants stated that they are happy with sex/intimacy.

Work
33% of participants indicated that uncertainty of income makes them feel ordinary.
16% of participants indicated that stress/tension makes them feel ordinary.
16% of participants indicated that lack of qualifications makes them feel ordinary.
14% of participants indicated that isolation makes them feel ordinary.
9% of participants indicated that management makes them feel ordinary.

9% of participants were happy with work/income.

Of the options listed participants rated the following issues that they would like to address.
42% workplace issues.
33% workplace stress issues.
30% general health issues.
21% health and wellbeing issues.
19% mental health issues.
14% family balance issues.
7% family issues.

Other suggestions included

• Male anger management
• Staying positive with work negativity, initiating change within workplace. Addressing issues with management.

Additional comments

• Session was great, would you like to come and talk to my partner?
• Went too long.
• Too much swearing.
• How do you make men realise that shit happens and you have to get on with it. Men need to initiate more romance. My husband will be attending on the 2nd September (men’s health night).
• Hard to see projector, screen & presenter, seating not big enough. It was unclear what tests/health screening should be done and how often. Good but waffles too much.
• Aware of most info given, loved the humour.
• Would like to focus on issues like depression in more depth.
• Should be presented to all teenagers in high school.
• Some slides were too quick, missed out on writing down some info. I appreciate it, was a lot of info to go through. Thanks for your time.
• Set at the right target audience, well done.
• Went too long.
• Too long, quite repetitive towards the end.
• Men need to grow up & contribute to family life/share responsibility.
• Still enjoyed it 2nd time round.
• Always appreciative of this type of information being made available to our regional town.
• Too much selling of self instead of getting into the talk. Dragged on too long.
• As always a great presentation Bernard.
• Informative and entertaining.
• Very truthful, touched home base.
• Wonderful 'cut to the chase' presenter.
• Too much emphasis on sex. Not all men live only sex.
• Great info conveyed in a fun, relevant way.
• I work with men at mine sites & its always good to know more.
• As a health professional most info not new just reinforced.