Men’s Health Week
June 11, 2029 - June 17, 2029
Men’s Health Week
Men’s Health Week is celebrated annually during the week ending on Father’s Day as recognized in the United States. It honors the importance of the health and wellness of boys and men. MHW is represented by the color blue or light blue. Wear a blue or light blue enamel awareness ribbon pin, fabric ribbon, or silicone awareness wristband bracelet for this observance.
MHW is a week developed by the Men’s Health Month organization. The goal is to spread awareness of men’s health. It also focuses on the stigmas faced in treatment. And, health-related masculinity stereotypes, prostate cancer, and other struggles that men may face. According to The Men’s Health Network, women are 100% more likely to get preventative care services. And women, on average, live five years longer than men. Men also have higher rates of heart disease, injuries, cancer, stroke, HIV/AIDS, and more.
This special awareness week is designed to give all boys and men access to the information, services and treatment they need to live healthier, longer, and more fulfilling lives. The hope is that by spreading awareness of preventable health consequences, men and boys are encouraged to pursue early detection and treatment. In addition, another focus is to prevent health-related challenges and conditions among men and boys before they occur. MHW also encourages healthcare providers, social workers, therapists, organizations, and non-profits to celebrate this week by offering more opportunities for men to sign up for care or find support in disease prevention.
Themes
MHW focuses on, for example, raising awareness of how men were being impacted by Covid-19 and the aftereffects of the pandemic. Themes change yearly. In 2023, the theme was to highlight the importance of taking stock of your overall health now that the worst of Covid-19 is over.
Men’s Health Week / Month
This awareness period was created by Senator Bob Dole and Congressman Bill Richardson with support from Men’s Health Network. President Clinton signed it into law in 1994 as Men’s Health Week (the week ending on Father’s Day in the United States). MHW was expanded to include the whole month of June in the late 1990s. MHW is still celebrated as “a special awareness period recognized by Congress and the President.” International MHW is celebrated around the globe.
MHW is designed to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems (mental and physical) in men. It also encourages early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Medical professions and community activists use this opportunity to encourage regular self-exams and screening.
Digital Media and MHW
Social media has become an important tool to promote awareness activities and connect participating organizations. A free comprehensive social media toolkit encompassing social media messages, images, blog posts, and newsletter content has been developed by MHN. The toolkit is available at www.MensHealthMonth.com and www.MensHealthweek.com
The hashtags #MensHealthMonth, #MensHealthWeek, and #ShowUsYourBlue are used during the month to promote and track awareness of Men’s Health Month, Men’s Health Week, Wear Blue Friday, and other activities in the United States and around the globe. MHN organizes and participates in dozens of Social Media events during the month of June that reach millions of readers.