A Clarion Call for Enhanced Male Health Engagement: A Message from Urban Health

City Health is urging men to use healthcare services, as data shows men are not taking advantage of available services. The theme for International Men’s Day this year is ‘Zero Male Suicide’, aiming to empower men to manage their mental health, as men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women. City Health advocates for a change in societal narrative to prioritize self-care and family wellbeing. They have introduced mental health services and appeal to men to schedule regular physical health checks for their own and their community’s wellbeing.

Encouraging Men to Leverage Health Services
City Health implores men to utilize available healthcare services, as data shows men fall notably behind in exploiting healthcare services. The theme for this year’s International Men’s Day, ‘Zero Male Suicide’, aims to empower men and boys to proactively manage their mental health, as men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women. City Health advocates for a collective shift in societal narrative to encourage men to prioritize self-care and family wellbeing.

Encouraging Men to Leverage Health Services

As November 19 approaches, International Men’s Day, City Health earnestly implores all men to fully utilize the available healthcare services. A probing analysis into the data startlingly exposes that, in terms of exploiting healthcare services, men as a distinct group fall notably behind. This year, on International Men’s Day, the focus is cast on the multitude of challenges men face including health, mental wellbeing, and abuse.

The theme for this year’s International Men’s Day, ‘Zero Male Suicide’, aims to empower men and boys to proactively manage their mental health. This focus has been triggered by a worrying report from the World Health Organization, which documented 13,774 suicides in South Africa in 2019, with a distressing 10,861 fatalities being males.

City Health’s Attempts to Address the Issue

In an effort to address this dire necessity, City Health has assigned three clinical psychologists to cover 15 healthcare facilities. These facilities, distributed across the towns of Albow Gardens, Bloekombos, Delft South, Dr. Ivan Toms, Fish Hoek, Gugulethu, Ikhwezi, Kuyasa, Langa, Masiphumelele, Matthew Goniwe, Muizenberg, Phumlani, Wallacedene, and Wesbank, strive to address this escalating issue.

However, the records from the previous year indicate that only a little less than a third of the men made use of these vital services. This underutilization also extends to general healthcare as well. A troubling data analysis of City Health records over the past three years reveals that men account for a mere 27% of the total influx at primary healthcare facilities. This pattern persists with only 33% of Diabetes patients and 32% of Hypertension patients being male.

The Need for a Change in Societal Narrative

These statistics starkly illustrate an urgent issue – men’s unwillingness or hesitation to access essential primary healthcare services. This behavior is not only harmful to the individuals but also to families and communities that rely on the health of every member.

City Health acknowledges this continuing problem and advocates for a collective shift in societal narrative. It aims to underscore that knowing one’s health status, seeking help when life becomes too much to handle, and utilizing lifesaving services is not only acceptable but highly encouraged.

City Health’s Response and Appeal

City Health’s introduction of mental health services is a response to the increasing burden that many residents bear. Especially in a country, where, according to statistics, men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women. Besides mental health services, City Health, since 2007, has inaugurated eight substance abuse treatment facilities.

Councillor Patricia Van der Ross, the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, makes a clear appeal. She implores the men in their communities to fully avail any services they may require, to schedule regular physical health checks, and to prioritize self-care and family wellbeing.

Final Call for Men’s Health Awareness

As International Men’s Day approaches, City Health’s message to men is straightforward – assume responsibility for your health for the improvement of not just yourself, but also your loved ones and your community. After all, healthy individuals form the foundation of healthy families and flourishing communities.

1. What is City Health urging men to do?

City Health is urging men to use healthcare services, as they are not taking advantage of available services.

2. What is the theme for International Men’s Day this year?

The theme for International Men’s Day this year is ‘Zero Male Suicide’, aiming to empower men to manage their mental health.

3. Why are men being encouraged to schedule regular physical health checks?

Men are being encouraged to schedule regular physical health checks for their own and their community’s wellbeing.

4. What is City Health’s response to the increasing burden that many residents bear?

City Health’s response to the increasing burden that many residents bear is the introduction of mental health services and the inauguration of eight substance abuse treatment facilities since 2007.

5. What is City Health’s appeal to men in their communities?

City Health’s appeal to men in their communities is to fully avail any services they may require, to schedule regular physical health checks, and to prioritize self-care and family wellbeing.

6. Why is knowing one’s health status important?

Knowing one’s health status is important because it helps individuals seek help when life becomes too much to handle, which is not only acceptable but highly encouraged for the improvement of not just themselves, but also their loved ones and their community.