Three new Men's Health Connected series for 2023
Men's Health Connected returns in 2023 with a series of online talks and workshops to promote better health outcomes for men everywhere.
This year, the focus is on three different streams: male suicide prevention, social connection and men's health, and the importance of getting men moving for better health.
Suicide Prevention
In 2022, we launched the first in a series of campaigns asking Governments – both State and National – to develop action plans that specifically target men. View Recording
Our report - Time to Act on Male Suicide In Tasmania - highlighted that Tasmania has the highest rate of male suicide in Australia, with men accounting for 4 in 5 suicides.
In March 2023, the Tasmanian Government announced its first Suicide Prevention Implementation Plan that included specific, funded actions to tackle male suicide.
The Time to Act on Male Suicide campaign is directly impacting how Governments are developing more effective plans to tackle male suicide.
In April 2023, we will launch Time to Act on Male Suicide in Victoria; the National campaign will launch in May 2023.
Men's Health Connected, which the Australian Men's Health Forum hosts, will run two sessions that focus on male suicide in Victoria and at a National level.
Social Connection and Men's Health
Research consistently finds that socially connected people live longer and have significantly better health outcomes than people who are socially isolated.
As many as 1 in 4 Australian men lack social connection. Put simply, they have no good mates. This lack of social connection increases the risk of heart disease, obesity, sleep problems, depression and anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicidality.
In this series of online events, we will look at the evidence that links social connection to better health outcomes for men. We'll spend time finding out about some great projects that are working to improve men's social connections, and we'll focus on the actions that Government can take to improve men's social connections through policies and programs.
We'll also highlight some of the great work the men's health sector is doing through a series of case studies, an excellent opportunity to share knowledge and experiences. Please let us know if you think your program should be included in the Mateship Showcase by completing this form.
The questions will help form your experiences into an engaging story.
The Mateship Showcase sessions will run at various times of the week from 8 May in the morning and afternoon.
Series 2 starts on 18 April 2023 at 12.30pm with a session that explores the benefits of social connection to men's health. AMHF CEO Glen Poole will look at the vital role of men's groups in promoting men's health by helping build healthy male social networks around Australia.
Getting Moving for Men's Health
In Series 3 of Men's Health Connected, we will look at the evidence that links physical activity to better health outcomes for men. We'll find out about some great projects that are working to improve men's health through sport and exercise, and we'll focus on the actions that Government can take to increase men's physical activity through policies and programs.
As part of this program, we will unveil a new Know Your Man Facts toolkit on Men and Exercise, developed to assist people participating in Men's Health Week, which runs from 12-18 June 2023.
We'll show people how to use the presentation and showcase best practice programs and initiatives that foster healthy habits in men.