So what can be done to prevent this?

With the launch of Men’s Health Week, staff at Western Sydney University have called for a renewed focus on the social networks that support physical and mental health. 

In Australia, a baby girl born in 2010 can expect to live to 82 years old, yet a baby boy born at the same time only has a life expectancy of 78 years.

Director of the Men’s Health Information Resource Centre (MHIRC) at Western Sydney University Professor John Macdonald, said men’s health was not just determined by male-specific illnesses such as prostate cancer.

“Rather than focusing solely on medical interventions when men get sick, we must address the social factors that contribute to the high rate of illness and death among Australian men. Prevention is always preferable than finding a cure,” he said.

“A major issue for many men is that their social networks are not as extensive as those of their female peers, meaning they can go without the informal advice, support and counselling provided by those networks.

“To help address this, we are calling for more ‘male friendly’ health services to help support the men in our lives, especially those that are retired. Too many men in Australia are isolated, and we need to reach out to them with services tailored to their needs.”

The majority of male deaths are attributed to accidents, cancer and heart disease.

In addition, men take their own lives at four times the rate of women, with five Australian men losing their lives to suicide every day.

Men’s Health Week (June 12-18) encourages men to sit down with their workmates and friends and have a chat about life.

This year’s theme, Healthy Body, Healthy Mind: Keeping the Balance, is a reminder for men to take the time to enjoy the things in life that make them happy.

Visit http://www.menshealthweek.org.au/ for more information about events happening during Men’s Health Week