Last updated on 5 January 2026 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team
Since June 15th to 21st is Men’s Health Week, we look at some common issues experienced by the male population regarding managing their health. We delve into attitudes towards physical and mental health to better understand what drives men to seek help. We focus on Men’s Reproductive health and Mental health. Our resident Naturopath, Mark Westhead, speaks about the Gut-Brain Axis and how treating the gut may improve Mental health symptoms and hopefully not just during Men’s Health Week.
Obstacles to Men’s health
Globally, the average male lifespan is four or five years shorter than the female lifespan. (1) Reasons for this include:(1,2)
- high-risk lifestyles and higher-risk occupations resulting in higher rates of injury from accidents
- unhealthy behaviours including high smoking rates, high ‘at risk’ alcohol consumption, alcoholism and resistance to change
- higher suicide rates
- the higher mortality rate due to heart disease
- hormonal differences can account for specific health problems
Attitudes to Men’s health
Although attendance rates to healthcare practitioners increase in men over 45 years of age, problems managed at that stage are frequently chronic in nature. (2) A survey of Australian men ranging in age from 19 to 95 years old found that:(3)
- Men delay seeking professional help when health symptoms occur
- 70% of all men and 69% of young, healthy men had current concerns about their health
- 91% reported being motivated to change their health
Men’s Motivation Mojo
What might motivate the desire for change, which may at first glance seem to concern issues around vanity and self-image, such as baldness and impotence,(1) are actually a real indication of the significant effect that androgen deficiency has on both the physical and mental health of men. While men have poorer health outcomes than women in many areas, particularly cardiovascular health and mental health,(4), this is partly due to hormonal differences. Since Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a predictor of cardiovascular-related diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and angina,(5) for some men, ED may be a motivating factor in addressing their health issues(1). Simultaneously, the impact of these physical changes may coincide with the increased incidence of mental health issues such as mid-life crisis and depression, (6) experienced by males.
Male-specific Reproductive health issues surrounding erectile dysfunction, include premature ejaculation, testosterone deficiency syndrome, baldness, impotence and prostate and testicular cancer. (1,5) Of real concern, Prostate cancer is the most common carcinoma in Western males. (1) Naturopathy offers some insight into caring for prostate health with specific nutrients and herbal medicines alongside diet and lifestyle advice and recommending test as the need arises.
Putting the ‘Men’ in Mental Health during Men’s Health Week
While it is recognised that there is a sustained increase in psychosocial disorders in men, including alcohol and substance abuse and domestic violence, men’s increasing aggression and auto-aggression remains unsolved health and societal problem. (6) Again, this is where Naturopathy has a part to play, offering insight that may be missed by mainstream medicine.
Making a difference in Men’s Lives and not just during Men’s Health Week.
At different times in their lives, men have differing health experiences and needs and different degrees of interest in improving their health. (2) We welcome the chance to offer our services to the male population, especially since among adults with multiple chronic conditions, women were more likely to use Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) than men. Men’s Health matters and we are here to assist with what matters most, with a little mind over matter.
You might like to check out our Men’s Health Week Recipe HERE. It is a great version of a trendy dish.
