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Home My WebLink About01-31-21 Correspondence - Request for Proclamation of Men's Health Month MEN'S HEALTH • MONTH MBEA TIN ZI - January 31, 2021 The Honorable Cyndy Andrus 121 N Rouse Ave Bozeman, MT 59715 Dear Mayor Andrus: June is Men's Health Month, and Men's Health Week, a special awareness period recognized by Congress, is the week ending on Father's Day(June 14-20 in 2021). In recognition of Men's Health Month, Men's Health Network (MHN) urges you to issue a proclamation naming this month as Men's Health Month in the city of Bozeman and a press release encouraging men to become more aware of their health needs throughout the year. Men's Health Month is especially important this year as COVID-19 is destroying lives across the country, with males dying at higher rates from this pandemic according to the Centers for Disease Control. Men's Health Month began in 1994 with the Congressional passage of Men's Health Week, sponsored by Senator Bob Dole and Congressman Bill Richardson at the request of Men's Health Network. Men's Health Week was signed by President Clinton, and became Public Law 103-264 on May 31, 1994. As then-Congressman Bill Richardson noted at the time: Recognizing and preventing men's health problems is not just a man's issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men's health is truly a family issue. Congressional Record, May 24, 1994, H3905 Men's Health Month is a time for the public to recognize the mental and physical health needs of men and boys while encouraging fathers to be role models for their children. To help your community celebrate Men's Health Month, MHN maintains the Wear Blue program planning website (www.WearBIueForMens Health.com), coordinates Wear Blue Day events across the country(www.WearBlueDay.org), and offers the free MHN HealthZone planning kit(www.MHNHealthZone.com)designed to help organizations conduct their own health events and awareness activities. Free logo, poster and brochure downloads are available at www.MensHealthMonth.org Thousands of organizations across the country and around the globe participate in Men's Health Month activities, promoting the health and wellness of men, boys, and their families. MHN also sponsors health awareness activities on Capitol Hill which are attended by hundreds of lawmakers and Congressional staff. With the growing epidemic of suicide and substance abuse, we are making a special effort this year to raise awareness of unrecognized and undiagnosed depression and mental stress in boys and men. We are organizing meetings of major mental health and other medical associations, producing white papers and journal articles, op- eds, radio and TV appearances, and conference presentations. Learn more at www.DialogueOnMensHealth.com We ask that you join with us to raise awareness of this critical health issue that affects so many boys, men, and families. Please take this opportunity to encourage men and boys in your community to engage in healthy behaviors and regular screening, and to seek help when it is needed, by issuing a proclamation declaring June as Men's Health Month in your community. Your proclamation will be displayed in Congress and, with your permission, a copy will be placed on the website, www.MensHealthMonth.org, for the citizens of your state to view. For your convenience, we are including a sample proclamation with this letter, and can provide an electronic copy upon request. We can email you the template for Men's Health Week if you would prefer to recognize the original Congressional awareness period. Please send your proclamation to: Men's Health Month P.O. Box 77476 Washington, DC 20013. If you include additional copies of the proclamation, we will present them to your Congressional delegation. Also consider participating in Wear Blue Day(www.WearBlueDay.org), the Friday before Father's Day, and using this opportunity to post your photos to social media accounts and to the hashtag #ShowUsYourBlue Thank you for your assistance in promoting health awareness in your community. Sincerely, Men's Health Month Because of reduced office staff during the pandemic, please contact us at: MHW@menshealthweek.org Men's Health Month—Men's Health Week P.O. Box 77476•Washington, DC 20013 202.543.MHN.1 .MHW@menshealthweek.org Men's Health Month June Proclamation Text - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Men's Health Month Whereas, despite advances in medical technology and research, men continue to live an average of five years less than women with Native American and African-American men having the lowest life expectancy; and Whereas, COVID-19 is destroying lives across the country, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting that males are more likely to die from this pandemic; and Whereas, encouraging safe behaviors including social distancing, wearing masks, and being vaccinated will help stop the spread of COVID-19; and Whereas, educating the public and health care providers about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and early detection of male health problems will result in reducing rates of mortality from disease; and Whereas, men who are educated about the value that preventive health can play in prolonging their lifespan and their role as productive family members will be more likely to participate in health screenings; and Whereas, fathers who maintain a healthy lifestyle are role models for their children and have happier, healthier children; and Whereas, Men's Health Network worked with Congress to develop a national men's health awareness period as a special campaign to help educate men, boys, and their families about the importance of positive health attitudes and preventative health practices; and Whereas, the Men's Health Month web site has been established at www.MensHealthMonth.org and features resources, proclamations, and information about awareness events and activities, including Wear Blue for Men's Health (www.WearBlueForMensHealth.com); and Whereas, (your city) Men's Health Month will focus on a broad range of men's health issues, including heart disease, mental health, diabetes, and prostate, testicular and colon cancer; and Whereas, the citizens of this city are encouraged to increase awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, and medical check-ups. Now, therefore, I, , Mayor of the City of , do hereby proclaim June as Men's Health Month in , and encourage all our citizens to pursue preventative health practices and early detection efforts throughout the year. (signed) (date)