Men’s Health Week: Its time for your Man MOT
News and information from the Advent IM team.
- by Olivia Lawlor-Blackburn
- General
This week is Men’s Health Week. 
In support of the campaign run by Men’s Health Forum, we want to encourage men to give themselves an MOT.
Why do men need an MOT?
We know early stage cancer diagnoses fell by third in first lockdown and that shortfall has continued. Macmillan reckon that around 50,000 of us have missed a cancer diagnosis during the pandemic. Prostate cancer diagnoses, for example, were down 29% between 2019 and 2020. That’s not because prostate cancer is getting rarer (it isn’t), but because men weren’t seeing their GPs to begin to get diagnosed. Indeed, male GP visits fell more than female visits. There were good reasons for this fall during lockdown but not now.
Meanwhile, NHS Health Checks, which should be offered to most people over 40, were paused during Covid. They should be being restarted (from April 2022).
Men’s Health Forum’s message to men;
- Take notice of what’s going on in your body and mind.
- Do the Forum’s quick and easy DIY Man MOT
- Get yourself a copy of the CAN DO manual which will also be online soon, a FREE download manual collecting together all the great ideas our Men’s Health Champions have had for things we can all do to boost our mental wellbeing. (If you’d like to train to be a champion in time for Men’s Health Week, you can sign up here for the June Men’s Health Champions course.)
- Dig a bit deeper with our existing Man MOT manuals: Man MOT and Man MOT for the Mind.
- Get an NHS Health Check
- Go and see your GP or use NHS 111 if you’re concerned about any symptoms
To find out more information or to support the campaign, click here.
Mental Health Awareness for UK Armed Forces – Head Up
Head Up new UK charity set up by four veterans, intending to promote mental health awareness for UK Armed Forces, and help forces personnel build a positive mindset and improve their mental resilience. Head Up on a mission to raise enough money to develop a holistic and positive 7-day retreat. This retreat will be there for all those who have served, and are still serving, in any service of the UK military, who wish to improve their mindset and outlook.
Find out more about Head Up.