Australia Highlights Men’s Health Week 14 – 20 June 2010
Clinical Adviser to beyondblue: the national depression initiative, A/Professor Michael Baigent, encourages men to “be a man about it” during Men’s Health Week, face some home truths about their drinking and, if they need help, have the courage to ask for it.
He says “Depression, anxiety and excessive drinking often go hand in hand. It’s common for men to use alcohol to try to make themselves feel better, but if they’re depressed or have an anxiety disorder, drinking can make a bad situation much worse. Response rates to depression and anxiety treatments improve if alcohol dependence is also treated. Both can be, and ideally should be, addressed at the same time.”
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem in Australia.
One in five men is likely to experience an anxiety disorder at some stage in their lives and one in eight men will experience depression – and while both men and women can be affected, men are often more reluctant to do anything about it.
CEO of beyondblue Leonie Young said: “We know from research that men tend to put off seeing a doctor if they’re not feeling well and sometimes think they can make themselves feel better by drinking.
This week, with its focus on men’s health, I encourage men to talk to a mate about their health and well-being and if they’re not travelling too well, ring the beyondblue info line 1300 22 4636, visit the beyondblue website, or see their General Practitioner.
Men’s Health Week is a national awareness week. To find out more go to the Men’s Health Week website.
To find out more about the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders, and available support, visit the beyondblue website, or call the beyondblue info line 1300 22 4636 (local call cost from a landline).
HealthInsite has topic areas on Depression, Anxiety, Alcohol and Mental Health of Men, with links to a wide range of reliable information.
Topics: 2010, alcohol, Aussie Male, Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, business, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, community, drinking, economic development, Economy, Governance, government, health care, Health Care, HealthInsite, infertility, liver disease, lung disease, Male death rates, men, monitor, National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, National Health and Hospitals Network, National Male Health Policy, news, prevention, prostate cancer, regional areas, remote areas, reproductive health, Rudd Government, rural areas, rural health programs, sexual health, smoking, society, suicide, testicular cancer, treatment, urban areas
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