A message from Physician Assistant, Andrew Brown: 

“Men often tend to push mental health issues under the rug, avoiding discussions about their struggles. However, when they finally bring these issues up with a provider or find someone to talk to, it can be life-changing. This is where integrated behavioral health services come into play. Research shows that most mental health issues are identified during primary care visits, emphasizing the importance of having behavioral health clinicians available during these appointments. 

At our practice, we ensure that behavioral health support is readily accessible. We have behavioral health clinicians who can be called upon during a primary care visit to provide immediate support. Additionally, we strive to follow up with patients based on their individual needs and situations, ensuring they receive the ongoing care they need. Integrated behavioral health services are essential in transforming lives and addressing mental health issues effectively.” 

As far as men’s health is concerned: 

  1. Men seek less care than women 
  1. Men are generally less likely to visit healthcare providers for preventive care or regular check-ups compared to women. This trend can lead to late diagnoses of diseases, less effective treatment outcomes, and higher mortality rates. Cultural expectations and traditional notions of masculinity often discourage men from seeking medical help. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), men are less likely than women to have a regular doctor and are more likely to skip recommended health screenings. 
  1. The life expectancy of men is far less than of women 
  1. “In a research paper, published Nov. 13, 2023, in JAMA Internal Medicine, the authors found the difference between how long American men and women live increased to 5.8 years in 2021, the largest it’s been since 1996. This is an increase from 4.8 years in 2010, when the gap was at its smallest in recent history.” While there’s been lots of research done to figure out why, we don’t know. According to the Harvard School for Public Health, “the pandemic, which took a disproportionate toll on men, was the biggest contributor to the widening gap from 2019-2021, followed by unintentional injuries and poisonings (mostly drug overdoses), accidents, and suicide.” 
  1. 1 in every 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and diagnosis starts with a simple lab test 
  1. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men in the U.S. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Early detection through regular screenings, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests, can significantly improve outcomes. However, due to lower healthcare utilization, many men are diagnosed at later stages of the disease when it is less treatable. 
  1. Higher Suicide Rates Among Men 
  1. Men are more likely to die by suicide than women, with rates significantly higher across all age groups. According to the CDC, men are nearly four times more likely than women to die by suicide. According to the Colorado Health Insititute, in Colorado, “the rate of suicide among men is over three times higher than among women (29.2 and 8.8 suicide deaths per 100,000 people, respectively).  Yet males who died by suicide were less likely to be reported as having a current diagnosed mental health problem or having ever been treated for a mental health problem.  Data show similar trends among youth ages 10-19.” 
  1. Men are less likely to ask for support 
  1. According to the National Institute of Health, “Health and the lack of it is perceived by many men from an early age to be the domain of women. Boys are more often brought to the child health surveillance clinics by female relatives than by male relatives…. Attending a general practice clinic can be difficult for many men, and they often find it male unfriendly. There are few male receptionists or practice nurses, so the first point of contact may be off putting for men with an “embarrassing condition,” which may nonetheless be life threatening. Waiting rooms display all the propaganda of women’s and children’s health, but there are few if any examples for men. This could be due to the lack of any government initiative on general male health screening and the fact that virtually no health promotion literature is produced for men other than on sexual health.”