Grow a Mo, Save a Bro: The Crisis in Men’s Health

We spend a lot of time on women’s and children’s health issues here. At some level, that makes sense–after all, the general practitioners at StoneTree are women, so the health concerns of women are top of mind for us. We’re living them ourselves, and many of us are moms, too.

But there’s more to it than that. Men and women approach health care differently, and as a result, are served differently, too. Women are more likely to seek help from a care provider, and they are more likely to bring their children in for care. They are also more likely to come to a care provider earlier in the onset of their health complaint. 

In comparison, men tend to visit the doctor less often, and have shorter consultations when they do. They are more likely to see their health care provider later after the onset of their complaint, and they are less likely to report all of their symptoms.  

There is a persistent and troubling myth that men don’t care about their health but they do. The system is just not set up with male sensibilities in mind. This is part of the reason that men’s health is in crisis. Men die, on average, six years earlier than women, largely for preventable reasons. It’s a tragedy.
The organize that speaks to this issue best is the MOVEMBER movement, founded by two friends over a beer in a bar.  Check out their origin story. What began in 2003 with 30 “Mo Bros” has now seen more than 5 million participants.

The movement started with a focus on prostate cancer and has since incorporated testicular cancer and mental health and suicide prevention. Their goal by 2030 is to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25%.

How do they do it?

  • Give facts. Guys need data, info and facts to feel empowered and to take action. Did you know that when detected early, prostate cancer survival rates are better than 98%? Find it late, and those survival rates drop below 26%.
  • Give self-care resources. Guys want to take care of themselves. Teaching them self-care like the know thy nuts helps them feel in control.
  • Tell the truth. Mental health is a huge issue for men. Globally, every minute, for example, a man dies by suicide–in Canada, 75% of suicides are men. Men tend to keep to themselves and not talk. This website speaks to men about speaking out like a man would.
  • The Mo Movement. It’s Movember! Show your support. Grow a mo, attend an event, or contribute to the movement. You’ll find all the details here.

Hey! You don’t have to grow a Mo to support Movember! There are all kinds of ways to participate, including walking or running 60km over the month!