June 14-20, 2021 is International Men’s Health Week, a time to raise awareness of the unique physical and mental health issues facing men. hommes The hope is that by promoting information and useful resources, people around the world can develop healthier habits and live better lives. Lives.

This is a difficult challenge, in part because of a lack of widespread information and societal views on issues such as men’s mental health.² In recent years, self-care interventions and online programs have been developed to educate men on how to improve their physical and emotional well-being.³

In what ways can these self-care interventions benefit men’s health?

Read on

1. Increased knowledge of medical and educational platforms

A recent study by BMC Health Research Policies and Systems examined the role of self-care interventions in men seeking to improve their sexual and reproductive health.⁴ Researchers note that the Internet has become an essential source of information for many men; young men from ethnic minority groups in particular. Self-care intervention programs that educate men about the availability of telemedicine and digital platforms for sexual health offer men a greater chance of finding accessible education tailored to their experience.

Investigators explain that self-interventions can allow more discretion and privacy, which some men may prefer when it comes to their sexual health. The researchers also found that programs that encouraged HIV self-testing were beneficial for participants.

2. Improved personal relationships

Self-care programs have the potential to benefit men’s mental and physical health, in part because they can improve personal relationships. For example, when men receive education and tools regarding sexual and reproductive health, they are less likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease, according to the study.⁴

Researchers have also seen a decrease in the rates of unwanted pregnancies among heterosexual couples and a greater commitment to how to approach the health care system in the face of fertility challenges. The researchers concluded that the men who received education from these intervention programs improved their overall personal and family relationships, which correlated with an increase in quality of life.

3. More useful and relevant health education

A 2021 study in the American Journal of Men’s Health examined the promotional effects of “Don’t Change Much,” a Canadian Foundation for Men’s Health e-health promotion program designed to get men to focus on their health. ³ The researchers observed that Although men often used the Internet as a source tool for their health-related questions, many walked away with unmet needs for their conditions.

Men’s eHealth programs like this aim to provide men with a more focused and tailored experience for men, ranging from diet and exercise to stress management and smoking cessation. Creating that user experience can increase the likelihood that these men can find the specific help they are looking for instead of feeling helpless and overwhelmed.

4. Greater intention to improve personal health

Men who have health issues may feel depressed and reluctant to try something new to improve their situation. However, the researchers found that exposure to the “Don’t Change Much” program was associated with greater changes in health-related behaviors in highly exposed respondents. Men felt more inspired to make changes to improve their eating habits, physical activity and the quality of their sleep. These associations led researchers to conclude that there was a need to promote and advance similar eHealth programs for men around the world.³

The references

1. International Men’s Health Week. Men’s Health Month. https://www.menshealthmonth.org/imhw/imhw.html. Accessed June 8, 2021.

2. Chatmon BN. Men and the stigma associated with mental health. Am J Men’s Health. 2020; 14 (4): 1557988320949322. doi: 10.1177 / 1557988320949322

3. Oliffe JL, Black N, Yiu J, Flannigan R, Hartrick W, Goldenberg SL. Promote men’s health with the electronic program “Don’t change much”. Am J Men’s Health. 2021; 15 (2): 15579883211001189. doi: 10.1177 / 15579883211001189

4. Narasimhan M, Logie CH, Moody K, Hopkins J, Montoya O, Hardon A. The role of self-care interventions on men’s health-seeking behaviors to advance their sexual and reproductive health and rights.Health Resolution Policy System. 2021; 19 (1): 23. doi: 10.1186 / s12961-020-00655-0