Men’s Health Week – free online presentation event with Tom Boyd

Men across Maroondah are being encouraged to take stock of their health during Men’s Health Week, from 15 to 21 June.

The annual national initiative provides a platform for debating and challenging important issues in men’s health. It focuses on the profile of men, their health outcomes and their health needs.

The week is also a time to celebrate the strengths of men, the contributions they make and the important role they play in society.

To celebrate Men’s Health Week, Maroondah is partnering with neighbouring councils to bring residents a free online presentation that brings men’s health into focus.

Residents can tune in to hear AFL premiership player Tom Boyd speak candidly about his personal struggles with mental health and reasons for quitting the game.

At just 18, Tom Boyd was the No.1 pick in the 2013 AFL National Draft when he was signed on to play for the Greater Western Sydney Giants and was traded to the Western Bulldogs the following year.

He helped to secure the club’s 2016 premiership flag, and at 23 he reneged on his high-profile contract with the Western Bulldogs and walked away from football.

During the online presentation, Tom will discuss living with mental health issues, dealing with criticism, as well as the happiness that can come from focusing on balance and self-care. He will also share techniques and strategies he personally used to overcome some of the most challenging moments in his life.

The free online presentation will take place on Wednesday 17 June at 7.30pm.

You can register for the event via Council’s events page and a link to the presentation will be emailed to you. If you miss it, the video will be available to access online for a week afterwards.

Maroondah Councillor Paul Macdonald said Men’s Health Week is a chance to reflect on the health issues and challenges that men face and look at what we can do to improve men’s health and wellbeing.

“With research revealing that men are more reluctant to visit their doctor and suffer from lifestyle-related health conditions than females of the same age, it’s vitally important that we draw attention to improving the health of men across our community,” Cr Macdonald said.

“Victorian men enjoy a good level of health by international and national standards, however, compared to females, they are at greater risk of dying from common conditions including heart disease, injuries and cancer,” he said.

Cr Macdonald said that as a community, we need to encourage men to live healthier lives.

He urged men to consider all aspects of their health holistically, including diet, exercise and social connections with others.

“While we may look after our bodies by taking part in sport and going to the gym, it’s also important to work on our emotional wellbeing. Dealing with mental health issues can be extremely isolating. Find time to catch up with mates or sign up to your local men’s group. Also understand that it’s okay to seek help if you need to talk to someone,” Cr Macdonald said.

“We hope that the week will encourage increasing numbers of men and boys to value their health and wellbeing as an important first step in developing more effective ways of taking care of themselves so they can lead longer and happier lives,” he said.