By Olivia Sanchez
Celebrated in June, the month of male health encourages fathers to illustrate a better life and seek preventive care.
The month aware of more men in order to prioritize their overall health – both physically and mentally. According to the Indiana University of Medicine SchoolMost men tend to neglect the importance of their health. Only 60% go to the doctor for an annual and routine assessment, and 40% will not go as long as something is wrong.
Men are recommended to receive a physique at least once a year. For physical activity, the American Ministry of Health and Social Services advises at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week.
Men’s mental health has become a greater emphasis in recent years. In general, men experience anxiety or depression daily, but are not comfortable to confide in others. According to a report By the American Psychological Association, 31% of men experience a depression at some point in their lives, and nine percent signals daily feelings of depression or anxiety. However, only 25% requires help from a mental health professional.
From a family dynamic, the health of men can have an impact on everyone around them.
Florida State University Kristen Greene is the director of FSU center for the couple and family therapy At Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. She is an expert in mental illness and how families overcome mental health challenges.
Greene’s research indicates the great effect that the mental health of men has on family dynamics.
“In the family system, each member has an impact on others and the mental health of men, maintained or neglected, can wave throughout the family system,” said Greene. “When a man has anxiety, sorrow or tacit professional exhaustion, these tacit parts often speak by his behavior, perhaps in withdrawal, irritability or silence. Families can notice the tension without knowing its source and can start writing their own interpretations of what this silence means. ”
Michael Ormsbee, director of FSU Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicinespecializes in research linked to the training of exercise and nutritional interventions. He thinks that men should never underestimate the importance of checking their health, even if they are in good shape.
“Saving your annual projections may not seem to be a big problem – especially if you feel good – but it is one of the easiest ways to miss something that could have an impact on your health along the way,” said Ormsbee. “One of the main reasons why I highlight early and regular exams is that you can establish a personal reference base. You want to be tested when you feel best.
Media investigations related to the mental health of men can contact Professor Greene at khgreene@fsu.edu.
Media investigations related to the physical health of men can contact Professor Ormsbee to jawsbee@fsu.edu.
Kristen Greene, director of the Center for Couple and Family Therapy, Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
What advice do you have for men to help them take care of their mental health better?
“According to the National Institute of Mental Health, only 35% of men with mental health disorder have requested professional treatment in the past year, compared to 54% of women. The gap is more pronounced when he examines men aged 18 to 29, with only 20% treatment.
“A useful practice is to take a moment and become curious about your inner world. Ask questions such as: “What am I doing right now?” Who or what has shaped how I react to stress? Journalization or even conversations with trusted friends can help discover the stories that influence your mental health.
What results are possible when men prioritize their mental health?
“When men start to name their emotions, seek support and make room for their mental well-being, they offer a powerful counter-recit. They show that it is possible to feel and always in the earth, to fight and lead, to love without having to control. This resumes not only their own trip, but also the emotional literacy of the whole family.
“I often say to the men I work with with whom when you take care of your mental health, you don’t just care about yourself, you interrupt the cycles, you heal generational injury and model something new for the people you love most.”
Michael Ormsbee, director of the Institute of Sports Sciences & Medicine, Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
Do the specific needs of men differ from women in terms of diet?
“Yes, but probably not too simplified way you see online. I tend to further frame nutrition around individual objectives – be it body composition, strength, endurance or overall health – rather than simply sex. Food strategies.