Men's Health Month and Men's Health Week (June 12-18) encourages boys and men to take charge of their overall health by making informed decisions and implementing healthy habits.
This year, the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) will share resources and information related to the health of racial and ethnic minority boys and men and the steps they can take to achieve Better Health Through Better Understanding.
According to the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy, racial and ethnic minorities are among those most affected by low health literacy, including 66 percent of Hispanics/Latinos and 58 percent of African Americans who have basic or below basic health literacy, compared to 28 percent of white Americans. The study also showed that women are slightly more health literate than men, with 12 percent of women having below basic competency compared to 16 percent of men.
On June 16, join us in celebrating Wear Blue Day to raise awareness about male health and encourage men to live longer and healthier lives. Together we can increase health literacy to help racial and ethnic minority boys and men make informed health decisions and decrease the incidence of preventable disease.
Visit our Men's Health Month website, available in English and Spanish, to learn more about disparities in men’s health, and to access downloadable templates, shareable graphics, and social media messaging as well as other men’s health-related resources.
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June is Pride Month, an observance that celebrates the LGBTQI+ community and the fight for equal rights. This month, join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in advancing equality for LGBTQI+ children and families and preventing discrimination against LGBTQI+ people.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender community are at increased risk for a number of health threats when compared to their heterosexual peers.
HHS is committed to working to ensure that LGBTQI+ people, their families, and communities receive equal access to health services by providing enhanced resources for LGBTQI+ health issues; developing better information regarding LGBTQI+ health needs; and working to close the LGBTQI+ health disparities gap that currently exists.
Visit the HHS LGBTQI+ Health & Well-being webpage for the latest news, reports, and health resources for LGBTQI+ people.
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National Black Family Cancer Awareness Week (NBFCAW) takes place June 15-21 and is led by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Oncology Center of Excellence. This initiative, established in 2021, aims to raise cancer awareness, encourage understanding of family cancer history, and promote cancer clinical trial participation and organ donation.
Raising awareness about cancer in Black communities is so important because Black Americans have had the highest mortality rates of any racial and ethnic group for all cancers combined and for most major cancers. Non-Hispanic Black men in particular have the highest cancer incidence rates in the U.S.
Being aware of your family risk factors, practicing healthy prevention behaviors as a family, and following recommended cancer screening measures can help prevent cancer.
Visit the NBFCAW webpage for more information, ways to engage, events, videos, and customizable graphics, and be sure to join the conversation using the hashtag #BlackFamCan.
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June 19 is World Sickle Cell Day, an international awareness day that aims to increase public knowledge and an understanding of sickle cell disease, and the challenges experienced by patients and their families and caregivers.
This year the Shine the Light on Sickle Cell campaign, supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), invites everyone to elevate awareness of this serious public health concern affecting more than 100,000 people in the U.S. and 100 million people around the world.
According to the CDC, sickle cell disease occurs among 1 out of every 365 Black births, and about 1 in 13 Black babies is born with sickle cell trait. While sickle cell disease is most common among Black people, other racial and ethnic minority groups are also affected, including Latinos, South Asians, Asian Indians, and people of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean backgrounds.
Visit the OMH sickle cell disease initiative website to learn more about the latest advances, access resources, and learn about initiatives that are helping to improve the quality of life for people living with this disease.
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National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is observed each year on June 27 to highlight the importance of HIV testing. This year’s theme, Take the Test & Take the Next Step, moves beyond testing and focuses on the measures people can take after getting their HIV status. By being aware of their status, individuals can choose healthier options and take appropriate steps to maintain their well-being.
HIV.gov reports that approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV, and about 13 percent of them don’t know it and need testing. Additionally, in 2019, Black/African Americans represented 13 percent of the U.S. population, but 40 percent of people with HIV. Similarly, Hispanics/Latinos represented 18.5 percent of the population, but 25 percent of people with HIV.
Today, there are more free, easy, fast, and confidential HIV testing options available than ever before. Testing, including self-testing, is the first step to engaging in HIV prevention and treatment services. People who receive a negative test result can take advantage of HIV prevention tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condoms, and other sexual health services such as vaccines and testing for sexually transmitted infections. People who receive a positive test result can rapidly start HIV treatment to stay healthy.
For more information, visit the CDC Let’s Stop HIV Together NHTD webpage.
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In honor of Men's Health Month, the OMH Knowledge Center is featuring a collection of resources aimed at improving the health of racial and ethnic minority men. This collection includes articles and documents that cover topics such as health promotion programs for men, increasing representation of minority men in the medical field, utilizing mobile technology for better health engagement, and more.
This collection is available for free through the online catalog.
Looking for more information on a topic included in this collection? View our search tips page for guidance on searching the online catalog, or contact the OMH Knowledge Center directly for research assistance.
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