6 minute read
In Our Library
Men’s Health and Liver Disease
With international Men’s Health Week in June, we focus on some of the issues that influence how men maintain their health in general, and liver health in particular. Almost 1 in 5 men in Australia wait longer than they feel is acceptable before getting an appointment with a GP*, and men often use drugs or alcohol to deal with health issues and stress. Men in Australia are three times more likely to be diagnosed with liver cancer than women**. Difficulties with help seeking behaviour, dealing with stress, drug and alcohol use, as well as maintaining sexual health can all seriously impact men’s health and wellbeing. The following resources aim to inform and support practitioners and men in the community to address these issues. All are free to access online.
* AIHW, The health of Australia’s males, Canberra, 2019 bit.ly/ausmalehealth
** Aust. Govt. Cancer Australia, Liver cancer in Australia statistics, Canberra, 2022 bit.ly/livercancerstats
Men’s Health Information and Resource Centre: publications Western Sydney University, Sydney. Website. Practitioner guides to accessible health care for men, effective men’s health messaging, men and mental health plus other evidence based publications about men’s health. bit.ly/mensinfo_resources
Mensline – help with addiction
Mensline Australia, Melbourne. Articles and online/video chat line.
Articles about how to recognise and seek help with addiction (drugs and alcohol) and its impact on physical and mental health - with access to phone, online and video counselling. bit.ly/mensline_addiction
Health behaviours of Australian men and the likelihood of attending a dedicated men’s health service
BMC Public Health, Bethesda, 2018. 10p.
70% of men reported a moderate or higher likelihood of attending a DMHS. Redesigning primary health services may enhance timely and effective uptake by men. bit.ly/menshealthservice
Men’s business
Our Mob and Cancer, Sydney. Webpage and video. Discusses the importance of culture and how men can conduct men’s business, upholding or supporting roles and responsibilities particularly during a cancer journey.
Know your man facts: toolkits for talks and sharing
Australian Men’s Health Forum, Sydney. Website.
Toolkit of resources to use in groups, the workplace or at community events. Includes notes, posters and social media tiles for mental health, mateship, and common health risks.
bit.ly/manfacts
Hepatitis B
Gay Men’s Health Australia, Melbourne, 2015. 16p article; 1 minute video
Gay friendly doctor, George Forgan-Smith, outlines the transmission risks, symptoms, tests and treatment for hep B. bit.ly/hepb_gaymen
What to know about hepatitis C in men
Hepatitis C virus appears to affect males more often than females: this article talks about the main symptoms for men, risk factors, testing, treatment and prevention.
Medical News Today, Bexhill-onSea, 2023. 8p article bit.ly/men_hepc
Find a service – HIV and STI testing
Emen8, Australia. Website. Sexual health and wellbeing initiative for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: search engine for STI testing sites including those run by peers.
To see a listing of all available resources on this topic, visit bit.ly/librarymen
