Improving men's health and wellbeing

38 Pages·2013·1.02 MB·English

Improving men’s
health and wellbeing:
strategic directions

Improving men’s health and
wellbeing: strategic directions
If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, please phone
03 9096 8757 using the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required,
or email: insert email [email protected]
This document is available as a PDF on the internet at:
www.health.vic.gov.au/diversity/men
© Copyright, State of Victoria, Department of Health, 2013
This publication is copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process except
in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
Authorised and published by Victorian Government, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
Except where otherwise indicated, the images in this publication show models
and illustrative settings only, and do not necessarily depict actual services,
facilities or recipients of services.
May 2013 (1204001)
Acknowledgements
The Department of Health would like to express thanks to those who contributed advice and
expertise to assist the development of Improving men’s health and wellbeing: strategic directions.
In particular, we would like to thank the following people and organisations:
• Andrology Australia
• Australian Drug Foundation
• Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University
• Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute
• Bendigo Community Health Services
• beyondblue
• Cancer Council Victoria
• community members who participated in consultation forums
• Crisis Support Services
• CSIRO Preventative Health Flagship
• Department of Health representatives
• Diabetes Australia – Vic
• Foundation 49
• General Practice Victoria
• headspace
• Lifeline Australia
• Medical Education Unit, University of Melbourne
• National Heart Foundation (Victoria)
• Nutrition Australia Victorian Division
• Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit, University of Melbourne
• Participation Advisory Committee, Department of Health
• Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre
• VicHealth (Victorian Health Promotion Foundation)
• Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
• Victorian Aboriginal Health Service
• Victorian Farmers Federation
• Women’s Health Victoria
• WorkSafe Victoria.
vi
Contents
Statement from the Secretary 1
The case for action 3
Sex, gender and health 3
Men’s health outcomes 4
What we currently do 12
Populations, partners and settings 13
Population groups 13
Partners 14
Settings 14
Our plan for the future 15
Responses across the action areas 17
Who will be involved? 18
Action area 1: Build understanding of men’s health issues 19
Action area 2: Improve the health system’s responsiveness to men’s needs 20
Action area 3: Strengthen preventive health interventions targeting men 22
Action area 4: Focus attention on priority health conditions 24
Next steps 29
vii
viii
Statement from the Secretary
The Victorian Health Priorities Framework 2012–2022 sets out the Victorian Government’s
commitment to transform the health system over the next decade. The framework recognises that
some groups, including men, have specific health needs that require a better informed and planned
response. Developing Improving men’s health and wellbeing: strategic directions is an important step
in fulfilling the government’s broader commitment.
Men in Victoria have many and varied roles in families, business and the broader community that
strengthen the social fabric of our state. While Victorian men, on average, continue to do well
on economic indicators such as earnings and employment, they have comparatively poorer
health outcomes when compared with women.
High levels of avoidable illness and premature death among Victorian men cause substantial costs
to men themselves, their families and the broader community. Improving men’s health and wellbeing:
strategic directions provides policy leadership to improve men’s health across four key action areas:
• increasing our understanding of men’s health issues
• improving the ability of the health system to respond to men’s health needs
• strengthening preventive health interventions targeting men
• focusing attention on a number of priority conditions.
Implementing the action areas will involve coordinated effort from a wide range of stakeholders
across the health, community and business sectors. An important focus will be boosting the
capacity of existing government programs to specifically address men’s health needs as part of their
day-to-day business.
I would like to thank the groups and individuals who contributed their time and effort to help the
department develop the strategic directions. It is an important document that will improve the
responsiveness of our health system and equip Victorian men to better manage their own health.
Dr Pradeep Philip
Secretary
Department of Health
1
2