‘A great opportunity’ to put men’s health on the radar

As campaign messages go, the one from this year’s Men’s Health Week in Australia could hardly resonate more easily with RACGP President Dr Michael Wright.
 
‘See a GP’ is the central theme in what organisers are calling a ‘national reminder to put blokes’ wellbeing front and centre’.
 
For Dr Wright, the theme is particularly important given that men are less likely to visit a general practice and have a lower average life expectancy.
 
Across 2023–24, women averaged 7.1 Medicare-subsidised GP attendances compared with 5.2 for men, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – part of a consistent pattern in recent years.
 
‘It’s a great opportunity to try to raise awareness about health conditions that men are more likely to be affected by and also the importance of men having regular checkups and having a regular GP who knows them,’ Dr Wright told newsGP.
 
‘We know that men are more likely to smoke and drink at unsafe levels than women and also more likely to engage in other risky behaviour.
 
‘But at the same time Australian men of all ages attend general practice less frequently, and that’s one of the things we’re trying to raise awareness of during this campaign.’
 
The awareness week, which runs from 9–16 June and is led by The Centre for Male Health at Western Sydney University, is particularly urging men aged 18–44 to book a GP consult. 
 
Organisers suggest two in three Australian men ‘wait too long before seeing a doctor when they notice an issue’.
 
‘We’re making sure men walk away with one simple, undeniable takeaway: book that doctor’s appointment,’ they said. 
 
The RACGP President also hopes the campaign will help break down barriers surrounding men’s mental health, with males significantly less likely to see a health professional such as a GP (12.8% compared to 21.1% for females).
 
‘While nearly one in five Australian men had a mental health disorder within the last 12 months, for men aged between 18–24 it is nearly one in three,’ Dr Wright said.
 
‘So it’s really important that men feel comfortable to talk about and acknowledge mental health issues.  
 
‘Hopefully this week we can remove some of this misinformation and stigma about mental health and show that is an important area to diagnose and treat.’
 
Dr Wright also endorsed the preventive health messaging, which again points men towards general practices for lifestyle advice and health-related screening.
 
‘By seeing a GP at least every 12 months, men will build a relationship with their doctor ensuring they feel confident and prepared to take action when serious health issues come up,’ the organisers wrote.
 
‘Whether it’s a new symptom or a regular check-up – your doctor can catch the serious things early and help you manage the less serious things easier.’
 
Another campaign focus is the risk of misinformation and using unreliable health advice, whether from family members, friends or misleading online sources.
 
‘Your doctor knows health,’ is another phrase widely used in the campaign.
 
‘That’s a great message to get out,’ Dr Wright said.
 
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