The EMHF has welcomed the launch of the first ever International Men's Health Week this month.

The EMHF were one of the original six sponsors of the week, which runs 9-15 June, when it was first mooted last year. ‘As the leading men’s health organisation in Europe, the European Men’s Health Forum is proud to support the first International Men’s Health Week. It is a much-needed and very valuable initiative,’ said Dr
Ian Banks, EMHF President.

Awareness of men’s health issues is slowly emerging. In Europe, male life expectancy has barely risen to the level of women’s in the 1980s. The incidence of prostate cancer is increasing. Male suicide rates are very high, up to 12 times higher than for women. Sexual health problems, including sexually transmitted infections and erectile dysfunction, which are the theme of the Week, are common with 10% of European young men affected by Chlamydia, for example. Despite men’s generally poor health, they remain under-informed about health issues.

Representatives from six leading men’s health organisations from around the world launched the International Men's Health Week initiative during the second World Congress on Men’s Health in Vienna (October 2002). The key supporters of this initiative are:

• The International Society of Men’s Health (ISMH)
• The European Men’s Health Forum (EMHF)
• The Men’s Health Forum (England and Wales)
• The Men’s Health Network (USA)
• The Men’s Health Information Resource Centre (Australia