The New Jersey Department of Health is encouraging men to take proactive steps to help avoid preventable illnesses and disease during National Men’s Health Month.
National Men’s Health Week is June 11-17, and Governor Phil Murphy issued a proclamation supporting National Men’s Health Week. The Department of Health and its partners are hosting several men’s health events throughout New Jersey in June. The Department is also encouraging men who work as health professionals to observe Men’s Health Month by wearing blue on the Friday before Father’s Day, which is June 15.
“Men are less likely than women to see a doctor for preventive care. And, as the CDC tells us, they die five years younger than women do, on average. They sustain most workplace injuries, and they are less likely to be insured,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal. “These are all solvable public health problems.”
Men’s life expectancy in the U.S. is 76 years, while women’s is 81 years. Did you know?…
Men are more likely than women to develop both heart disease and cancer, the two leading causes of death in the U.S.
Men are almost two times more likely to binge drink than women and consistently have higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations than women.
Almost 7 percent of men who die in the U.S. annually are killed by unintentional injuries, the third leading cause of death among men. This category includes workplace accidents, motor vehicle crashes and accidental gun deaths. Unintentional injuries do not rank in the top 10 causes of death for women in the U.S.
"I encourage men to seek regular medical advice, to get screened for colo-rectal and prostate cancer and to lead healthy lifestyles by eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, staying active and managing work/life balance,” Commissioner Elnahal said. “This is true all year, but Men’s Health Month is a great time to call attention to these issues.”
As part of Men’s Health Month, Deputy Commissioner Deborah Hartel will be the keynote speaker at a conference on fathers’ perinatal mental health on Thursday, June 7 at William Paterson University.
The conference is sponsored by the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey in collaboration with the New Jersey chapter of Postpartum Support International.
Commissioner Elnahal will also post daily “Did You Know?” health tips for men on his Twitter page throughout the month using hashtag #MensHealth.
The following prostate and colorectal screening events are open to the public. Men are encouraged to attend and to bring their male friends and relatives of all ages.
Saturday, June 2, 9-11 a.m. - Inspira Health Network, 1505 West Sherman Ave. Vineland, NJ Phone: 856-641-6080
Saturday, June 9, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Hoboken Family Planning, 929 North Wood Ave., Linden, NJ 07036 Phone: 201-963-0300
Sunday, June 10, 1-2:30 p.m. - Rutgers Colorectal and Prostate Cancer Education Session, 180 S. Main St., Orange NJ Phone: 973-972-5207
Tuesday, June 12, 6-7 p.m. - Holy Name Medical Center, Marian Hall. 718 Teaneck Rd., Teaneck, NJ. This is a free seminar where men can learn more about ways to maintain their health. Refreshments will be served. The featured presenter is Christopher Wright, MD, Urologist, Holy Name Medical Center, who will discuss erectile dysfunction and the connection to diabetes and heart disease, urinary incontinence and how low testosterone levels can be attributed to other underlying health issues.
Wednesday, June 13, 5:30-7 p.m. - Sussex County Health Dept. 201 Wheatsworth Rd., Suite 4, (Hardyston Twp.), Hamburg, NJ. Phone: 973-579-0570
Thursday, June 14, 6-7 p.m. - NORWESCAP Warren County Father’s Group Prostate and Colorectal Cancer Awareness, 350 Marshall St. Phillipsburg, NJ.
Saturday, June 16, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Hoboken Family Planning, 929 North Wood Ave., Linden, NJ Phone: 201-963-0300
Saturday, June 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Visiting Nurse Association, Triumphant Life Church Father's Fellowship, 500 Malterer Ave., Oceanport NJ Phone: 732-224-6905
Tuesday, June 19, 11 a.m. to Noon - Visiting Nurse Association Coastal Communities Family Success Center 300 Broadway, Long Branch NJ Phone: 732-224-6772
Saturday, June 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Visiting Nurse Association Community Health Fair 416 Bellevue Ave. Trenton NJ Phone: 609-989-0236
Saturday, June 23, 9-11 a.m. - Asbury United Methodist Church, 2220 Woodlynne Ave., Woodlynne, NJ.
This is a men’s breakfast meeting on Prevention, Screening, Diagnoses and Treatment of Prostate & Colorectal Cancers. RSVP by June 23 to Delores McCray at delores.mccray@doh.nj.gov.
Thursday, June 28, 4-7 p.m. - Middlesex County Health Department, Prostate Cancer Screening event at public health clinic, located at 29 Oakwood Ave. in Edison, NJ
Saturday, June 30, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Hoboken Family Planning Good Shepard Church, 780 Kearny Ave., Kearny, NJ Phone: 201-963-0300
In addition to these events, the Department of Health offers colorectal and prostate cancer screenings for low-income and uninsured residents through the New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection (NJCEED) program. Find a participating NJCEED facility here.
Learn more about NJCEED.