# The Courage to Change: A Men's Health Month Guide Source: https://strongmencoaching.com/the-courage-to-change-mens-health-month-june-2023/ Men’s health doesn’t announce itself. Ignored long enough, a nagging symptom becomes a diagnosis, and a bad week becomes a bad decade. June is Men’s Health Month, a dedicated push to get men paying attention to their bodies and minds before a crisis forces the issue. It takes courage to change course. Here’s where to start. **Key Takeaways:** - **Men in the U.S. live shorter lives than women** on average, and Men’s Health Month exists specifically to close that gap. - **Heart disease and prostate cancer** remain among the most serious, and most preventable, health risks men face. - Most men don’t avoid help because they don’t care — they avoid it because **asking feels like admitting weakness**. - Every man who’s made a lasting health change had **someone in his corner** holding him accountable. - The path forward starts with **one decision** — booking the appointment, having the conversation — not a full life overhaul. ### Table Of Contents 1. [What Is Men’s Health Month?](#what-is) 2. [The Numbers Men’s Health Month Is Trying to Fix](#the-numbers) 3. [The Health Risks Every Man Should Take Seriously](#health-risks) 4. [The Courage to Change: Why Men Don’t Ask for Help](#courage-to-change) 5. [Frequently Asked Questions](#faq) 6. [Final Thoughts](#final-thoughts) ### 1 What Is Men’s Health Month? Men’s Health Month happens every June, timed to lead into Father’s Day. Congress established it in 1994 to give men, families, and health providers a recurring reason to focus on preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment. The observance isn’t tied to any single year or crisis. It’s a yearly reminder that most of what shortens men’s lives is manageable if it gets caught early enough. ### 2 The Numbers Men’s Health Month Is Trying to Fix The reason this month exists is in the data. Men in the U.S. live about five fewer years than women on average, and heart disease, not accidents, not violence, is the leading cause of death for men overall. Men are also less likely to have a regular doctor and less likely to go in for a checkup unless something already hurts. None of this is fate. It’s a pattern of waiting, and it’s the pattern Men’s Health Month exists to interrupt. ### 3 The Health Risks Every Man Should Take Seriously Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers men face, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed in his lifetime, and screening conversations typically start around age 50 for average risk, or as early as 40 to 45 for men with a family history or who are Black, a group at higher risk. Depression and anxiety are just as real and just as dangerous when left untreated, and men die by suicide at roughly four times the rate of women, largely because they’re far less likely to seek help and far more likely to suffer in silence. None of this replaces a conversation with your own doctor about what screening and timeline make sense for you. Regular checkups, honest conversations about mental health, and small daily habits like sleep, movement, and stress management do more to prevent these problems than any single fix after the fact. ### 4 The Courage to Change: Why Men Don’t Ask for Help Every man who’s made a real, lasting change has had someone in his corner: a doctor, a coach, a brother, a mentor. Support isn’t a sign you can’t handle it. It’s what turns good intentions into follow-through. Whether that’s the checkup you’ve been putting off or the conversation you’ve been avoiding, having someone hold you to it changes what actually happens. ### 5 Frequently Asked Questions #### When is Men’s Health Month? Men’s Health Month is observed every June, leading up to Father’s Day. It’s a recurring national focus on men’s physical and mental health, not a one-time event tied to a specific year. #### Who started Men’s Health Month? Congress established Men’s Health Month in 1994 to raise awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment among men and boys. #### At what age should men start prostate cancer screening? Screening conversations typically start around age 50 for men at average risk, and earlier, often 40 to 45, for men with a family history of prostate cancer or who are Black. Talk with your doctor about what timeline is right for you. #### Why do men avoid seeking mental health help? Many men are conditioned to handle problems alone and see asking for help as a weakness. That mindset, combined with stigma around mental health, means men are far less likely to seek treatment even though depression and anxiety affect them just as much as anyone else. #### What are the leading causes of death for men? Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, followed by cancer, including prostate cancer, and unintentional injury. Many of these risks are manageable with regular checkups and early detection. ### 6 Final Thoughts The path to better health starts with one decision, not a full life overhaul. Book the appointment. Have the conversation. Ask for help. If you’re ready to build real structure around your health, physical and mental, [STRONG Men Coaching](https://strongmencoaching.com/life-coach-for-men-coaching-options/) is built for exactly that. This Men’s Health Month, take the step. #### Related Reading - [How to Be a Man of Greatness](https://strongmencoaching.com/how-to-be-a-man-of-greatness/) - [9 Ways to Become a Better Man Starting Today](https://strongmencoaching.com/9-ways-to-become-a-better-man-starting-today-the-ultimate-guide/)