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Men can benefit from community programs that allow them to come together.

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Sparks fly for men’s health initiatives

By Angel St. George

Published 2:23 PDT, Fri March 25, 2022

Last Updated: 4:52 PDT, Fri March 25, 2022

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Men’s community groups can be safe spaces to break down barriers between social and health needs.

"Men can be harder to get out to community functions,” says Trey Melton, seniors coordinator at Thompson Community Association in Richmond. “If they find a way to relate to others, they’re more open to new ideas.”

Melton facilitates the Gentlemen and Conversations group from 10:30 a.m. to noon every second Friday at Thompson Community Centre. The group meets casually and enjoys coffee, sports talk, the odd political debate, and lots of laughter together.

It acts as a safe space for men to vent their frustrations and provides an opportunity to get struggles off their chest. Other topics include sharing tips about doctors, experiences with health resources like the Telus Health MyCare app, and personal challenges like caring for spouses with dementia or mourning the loss of loved ones.

“There are many diverse men joining community groups and fitness programs. Building cohesive relationships creates an opportunity to have their (voices) be heard,” says Melton.

Minoru Centre For Active Living hosts Hanging With The Guys on the second and fourth Friday of each month from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The main speakers are selected by group members and change each session. The group’s primary focus is for members to enjoy social time; during the pandemic the group initially met over the phone, but has since resumed in-person meetings.

Members agree that attending the group has reduced feelings of isolation and loneliness. Meaningful friendships have formed between the members and they keep an eye out for each other. One member moved into care recently and others call him regularly to stay in touch.

Guest speakers from Vancouver Coastal Health join from time to time to educate members about men’s health and members are invited to suggest speakers.

According to a University of British Columbia (UBC) study, men who regularly used a free web resource, DontChangeMuch.ca, made significantly more health changes than men who did not.

“We believe we have ‘cracked the code’ to engaging large numbers of men online which has been an elusive goal for health care,” says Wayne Hartrick, founding president of the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation. “Because many men avoid healthy basics, like nutrition and activity and seeing the doctor regularly, men’s poor health is costing Canada about $37 billion in lost productivity and health care costs. Now, for the first time, we have research that shows our humorous, guy-friendly ‘don’t change much’ blend of a marketing-driven programming, based on unbiased, evidence based research works.”

The study compared differences in behaviour among 863 men who accessed an e-health resource and a benchmark sample of 2,000 Canadian men who had not. They found 75 per cent of regular users on the site reported improved eating habits and 70 per cent said they were engaging in more sports and exercise.

In addition, 58 per cent said they recently made an effort to sit less and walk more, and almost half (46 per cent) lost weight. Forty-five per cent said they had cut back on alcohol consumption

“Men are more likely to die from clogged arteries and heart disease and live an average of nine years of their lives in extremely poor health,” says study lead John Oliffe, a nursing professor who leads the mens health program at UBC. “Free health resources can help men access information and resources that they may otherwise be unable to, and the positive changes in their health can ripple out to benefit their families and society.”

Study co-author Dr. Larry Goldenberg, a professor of urologic sciences at UBC and founding chair of Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, says men’s poor health is “a missing piece of the family health puzzle.”

“Waiting until they show up at the doctor’s office in crisis is not the way to go. Making early, positive changes improves their lives, their families’ lives, and reduces strain on our healthcare systems,” he adds.

Men’s Sheds has been identified as a possible source of meaningful activity and social support that could contribute to health.

Sheds are practical communal spaces, typically workshop areas that provide opportunities for men to take part in social and recreational activities that encourage skill sharing and informal learning. They provide access to social support and enable men to gain advice and share experiences and concerns in an informal and unstructured environment.

The Men’s Shed Association of B.C. provides resources, information, and other support to promote the effectiveness of individual men’s sheds throughout the province, whether or not they are members of the association.

Start-up grants are available to groups of two-plus men or community organizations interested in starting a Men’s Shed in their B.C. community.

Organizations can also apply for larger project grants of up to $10,000, depending on eligibility.