Health Parity

Men and boys in American society share a preponderance of health and mental health issues. Research demonstrates that men suffer more severe chronic conditions, have higher death rates on all 15 leading causes of death, and die more than six years younger than women. The precipitous decline in men's social and physical health has had a particularly negative impact on minority males, particularly African-Americans. At RMP, we believe that there is a crisis in men's health which has yet to achieve the attention it deserves among social welfare professionals, policy makers, and men. As a result, we are dedicated to research, funding, and advocacy to bring awareness to the health needs of men and boys.

Goals:

• To understand that men's health is not just about male bodies but about male well-being
• To introduce new practice methods with men
• To increase collaboration among diverse health fields that intersect with men's health
• To learn from the women's health movement
• To recognize the relationships between men's health, occupational hazards, social, economic, and political positions
• More health screening
• More men's health clinics
• Increased numbers of male visiting physicians
• More research and funding on men and mental health issues
• More socially accountable marketing aimed at men and boys
• More research on sports and athletics
• More research on health and aging
• Greater sensitivity to adolescent and adult sexuality