June is Men’s Health Month. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, boys and men in the United States, on average, die 5.6 years earlier than women and die at higher rates from nine of the top 10 leading causes of death. During Men’s Health Month, the HHS office of Minority Health and advocates throughout the country are encouraging boys and men to seek early detection treatment or screenings for preventable health problems. The observance also gives health care providers and policy makers the opportunity to provide medical advice and early treatments for injury and disease.

This year, the Office of Minority Health will focus on the Five Plays for Men’s Health campaign to encourage men and their families to practice and implement healthy decisions and habits. The plays will highlight the importance of heart health, daily exercise, regular check-ups, smoking dangers and mental health.

Visit the Office of Minority of Health website to download the Five Plays for Men’s Health materials and to learn more about men’s health.   

Men’s Health Week was created to build awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Throughout the week leading up to Father’s Day, health care providers, public policy makers, the media are encouraged to create awareness about the importance of men’s health. This year, The Office of Minority Health encourages communities to participate in Wear Blue Day on Friday, June 15. This day was created by Men’s Health Network to raise awareness about the importance of male health and to encourage men to live longer and healthier lives. Click here to learn more about Men’s Health Week and Wear Blue Day.

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day. During the observance, federal partners, health departments and other organizations join together to raise awareness about the importance of HIV testing and early diagnosis of the virus. Everyone is encouraged to get HIV testing on National HIV Testing Day to know their status, and to get connected with treatment services and care if needed. Visit HIV.gov to learn more about National HIV Testing Day activities and resources.

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), the Office on Women’s Health (OWH), and the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) will be
co-hosting the 2018 Healthy Aging Summit.

This year’s Summit will take place on July 16 and 17 in Washington, DC. The event will focus on keeping Americans healthy as they transition into older adulthood and maximizing the health of older adults through prevention strategies and more. 

Visit the Healthy Aging Summit website for more information about registration, the downloadable toolkit and to view the full schedule of events during the Summit.  

The Office of Minority Health Resource Center Knowledge Center has developed an extensive collection of documents specifically related to minority populations and behavioral health.

For Men’s Health Month, OMHRC Knowledge Center recommends “Ensuring the Well-being of Boys and Young Men of Color: Factors that Promote Success and Protect Against Substance Use and Misuse.”  This SAMSHA report examines individual personality traits, along with influences of society, relationships, and community on the lives of men of color under the age of 25 that contribute to prevention of substance use and their overall well-being.

Click here to gain access to the Knowledge Center’s Online Catalog.