Men, Health and COVID-19

14th June, 2021
smellings
Wellbeing

Men’s Health Week 2021 asks: how do we move forward? We will be raising awareness of the health issues that affect men and be focussing on getting men to become more aware of health problems they may have or could develop and encourage them to do something about it.

So, how has COVID-19 affected men’s health?

Everyone’s mental health has been challenged during COVID-19, but men’s mental health was a cause for concern even before the pandemic. As we try and move on from the last year of lockdowns, uncertainty, and troubling times we need to raise awareness and help support men at home and in the workplace.

Many male-dominated workforces have suffered because of COVID-19 in terms of income, and some have received little support to compensate for this loss. Moreover, these types of jobs cannot be easily done at home, and many of these workforces are also at greater risk from COVID-19.

 

Men’s Health Week provides an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing issues faced by men. I feel it’s even more important this year for men to take the time to connect with others and to look after their mental wellbeing proactively. It has been a tough year; it’s ok, not to be ok
Jo Tracey, Director of People, Connexus
Mens Health 2021

Did you know?

  • On average, men die 3.7 years earlier than women
  • Men go to the doctor less than women
  • Men are three times more likely to die from suicide than women.
  • 12.5% of men in the UK are suffering from one of the common mental health disorders
  • On average, 191,000 men a year report stress, depression, or anxiety caused or made worse by work.
A Men's Health Strategy

There is no National Men’s Health Strategy, and the Men’s Health Forum is calling upon the UK government to introduce a strategy addressing men’s health and how challenges around prevention, care, and outcomes in both physical and mental health can be addressed.

You can find out more and help support the Men’s Health Forum manifesto here.

Connexus are here to help.

We are here to help all our customers and their communities across Herefordshire and Shropshire. We understand how tough it has been during the pandemic and that many of our customers are suffering from the challenges that COVID-19 has created.

 

At Connexus, we take health and wellbeing extremely seriously and aim to provide a positive workplace for everyone. So I am delighted to support men’s health week to remind all the men out there that this applies to you too!
Richard Woolley, CEO, Connexus

Our Prevention Support Officers at Connexus support our tenants and those in the wider community from becoming homeless through drop-in services and by making home visits and helping those who have found themselves homeless and in temporary accommodation. They can also assist with filling out Universal Credit and Housing benefit forms.

The Housing Officers here at Connexus are experts in their local areas and play a key role in keeping in touch with our tenants. 

The Tenancy Advice Officers are available to help you through changes you and your family may be experiencing and any financial troubles you may need help with. Find out more here.

The Connexus Customer Service Team is always here to help and point you in the right direction, whatever your query is, providing the information and team for you to talk to when you need them. Just call 03332 31 32 33 or email hello@connexus-group.co.uk

 

The CAN DO Challenge

‘Every day, a different way!’

For Men’s Health Week, everyone is being encouraged to take the CAN DO Challenge.

There are five ways to wellbeing and five scientifically proven things that we can all do to help us feel better.

The five ways are:

  1. Connect - connect with other people (e.g. call an old friend you haven't since before lockdown) #connectmonday
  2. (Be) Active - move your body (eg. go for a run/walk/swim/dance/etc) #activetuesday
  3. Notice - take notice of the environment around you (e.g. turn off your phone for an hour) #noticewednesday
  4. Discover - learn something new (e.g. read a book you haven't read before) #discoverthursday
  5. Offer (or give) - do something for someone else (e.g. volunteer for a local community group) #offerfriday

CAN DO challenge

Find out more:

03332 31 32 33      |      connexus-group.co.uk      |      hello@connexus-group.co.uk      |      @weareconnexus