Each year, Springfield-Greene County Health encourages men to make a personal commitment to their health through the month of November. This year’s theme is “Shaping a Movement,” and is meant to inspire men to use MOvember as an opportunity to begin a year-round journey toward improving their health and to inspire others to do the same.
Movember—a combination of the word mustache and November—uses facial hair to encourage men to be aware of and do something about some of the specific health issues that may affect them.
“It doesn’t have to be difficult,” said Assistant Health Director Jon Mooney. “Simply scheduling a checkup with your doctor or a counselor, talking with someone about the big things in your life, or just taking a walk a few times a week can be the start of a big improvement in your health.”
On average, men die about five years sooner than women, largely from preventable reasons. In order to make progress toward changing this statistic, the Health Department is encouraging men to:
- Do One MO Thing: One change can make a positive difference to your health. Start this month by taking a step toward better health by finding one new habit or making that one appointment you've been putting off. A study by the Cleveland Clinic showed that 72% of men would rather do household chores than see a doctor, and only half reported getting their annual checkup.
- Talk MOre About It: Suffering in silence isn't a safe or healthy option. Men need to get comfortable with talking about their health, especially their mental health. Men are less likely to seek help for things like depression, anxiety and substance use. The same Cleveland Clinic study reported that 20% of men aren’t completely honest with their doctors, mostly due to embarrassment or fear of the potential diagnosis.
- Move in MOvember: Physical inactivity is one of the leading factors of preventable illnesses like diabetes and health disease. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 23% of men aged 20 and older in Greene County report being physically inactive. This month, get up and get moving! You will sleep better, have more energy for the things that matter and protect your health.
By taking small steps now, our community can begin working toward reducing the physical and mental health disparities faced by men in Greene County. More information on MOvember can be found at movembersgf.org.
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Media may contact the Health Department PIO Team by call or text at 417-380-2556 or email at [email protected].
Springfield-Greene County Health Department
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