Life Wilgeheuwel hosts men’s health awareness campaign
Community commemorates and celebrates men's health.
Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital invited the community to commemorate and celebrate Men’s Mental Health Month at Eagle Canyon Estate on June 29.
According to the hospital’s marketing and communications manager, Natasha Griffin, the event aimed to heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages, to support men and boys in engaging in healthier lifestyle choices, and to encourage the early detection and treatment of diseases like cancer, heart disease, and depression.
Men were taught the importance of mental health and how to keep themselves healthy through their day-to-day diets. Representatives from Dis-Chem, Virgin Active and others, attended the event to show support to those who are suffering from mental health and give others health advice to prevent the pandemic from happening.
Resident specialists provided informative talks on various health concerns that are affecting men, including the importance of annual health checks, vaping and smoking, urological dysfunctions, kidney diseases, mental health and burnout, supplements, and workouts.
“This event is important mostly for men and health institutions because it helps these two parties create a life-saving relationship that promptly helps to deal with mental and health hazards while they are still immature,” said medical practitioner Chris Holt.
“These health awareness campaigns are most valuable when they start conversations. While it is important to know that a cause exists, knowing what action someone should take after their involvement and participation in the awareness campaign is more important.
“At every stage of life, men are encouraged to consider three equally important aspects of their health: Physical health, mental health and social connection. This month was aimed at raising awareness of how these aspects work together and reminding men to take charge of their health,” Natasha added.
Attendees received medical advice after the event from different institutions and medical attention from the hospital’s medical practitioners. One of the speakers, who is a sports medical doctor, advised men to work around their daily diets and try to improve their lifestyle choices to help them avoid bad habits and addiction to substances.
In recent years, the conversation around mental health has gained momentum, but still, men find it difficult to seek medical, mental and social advice from professionals in those sectors. However, Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital saw the importance of inviting them into one room to share this information and how they can relate to situations faced by another fellow in the room.
The hospital encourages men to seek medical help when they feel like something is not normal in their lives and explains that even heroes seek help.
