Men's Health Week is celebrated every year in the middle of June, where the spotlight is shined upon the importance of men's health. It's a great way to raise awareness and kickstart discussions about improving male health. And this annual event isn't just about physical health. It's also an opportunity to highlight the importance of mental and emotional wellbeing among boys and men.

For 2022, Men's Health Week will take place during the week of June 13-19. The focus this year is 'Building Healthy Environments for Men and Boys', which is all about creating physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy environments at work, home, and in the community.

Creating these kinds of healthy environments requires effort from everyone and not just the men - and that's where all the women, family, friends, and partners can step in to help. So with men's health being the big focus this week, here's some positive things you can do for your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, as well as what women, friends, family, and partners can also do to help the men in their lives.

One of the best ways of staying on top of your physical health is to get regular medical check ups, even if you're feeling perfectly fine. Yes it can feel a bit weird to get a medical check when you're feeling great, but regular check ups can help you feel comfortable raising any concerns (like family history of health problems), as well as pick up early warning signs of disease or illness.

We've all heard about the benefits that exercise has on the body and mind - and the experts are definitely onto something. Our boy is a system, which means our physical and mental health are linked. Physical exercise gets the oxygen moving around our body including to our brain, helps our muscles and organs to function well, and helps reduce the chance of serious health problems later in life. It can also be a great way to clear your mind before or after a long day.

And the best part of this?

Exercise doesn't have to be a structured gym sesh and you can get your friends, family or partner to join in. As long as you squeeze in about 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity that works the major muscle groups on most days - like gardening, walking the dog, or even washing the car - you'll be much better off.

Taking care of the basics is key when it comes to staying on top of your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. You need the foundations to be solid after all. It's important to get that work and play balance right, especially during stressful times.

Try to get enough sleep, drink plenty of water, maintain a generally healthy diet and avoid clogging your arteries with junk food or alcohol. Experiment with finding ways to relax, like through meditation, yoga, pilates, reading, cooking, or getting a massage to calm your mind and body.

Lone wolf-ing it may seem cool in movies and TV shows, but the reality is that humans need strong and healthy relationships in order to stay on top of our mental and emotional wellbeing. Research suggests that having strong, healthy relationships with others benefits our physical and mental health, boosts our immune system, and may even help us live longer.

Women, family, friends and partners can also help by proactively checking in regularly so that the onus isn't all on the "man" to reach out for support. So make time to catch up and keep in touch with your friends and loved ones. That way you're there to support each other when the time comes, and everyone can stay on top of their physical and mental health.

If you need some help or just need to talk to someone, you can chat to one of our Sonder team members who can then refer you to appropriate support if needed.

If you have any questions or need extra support, we're here to help you anytime in any language. Simply start a chat with us via the home screen of the Sonder app.

Information sourced from International Men's Health Week, Better Health #1, Better Health #2, and Mensline Australia.

Image credit: Creed

All content is created and published for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice.