MEN'S HEALTH MONTH 2025
- Shantay Davies-Balch
- Jun 13
- 4 min read
June is Men’s Health Month, a time to hold space for open, healing conversations about men’s health and well-being. It is an opportunity to talk about all aspects of health, offer support, and encourage seeking care.
Black men face unique and often life-threatening health disparities from preventable conditions. They are more likely to experience chronic illness, have a lower life expectancy, and lack access to quality care due to systemic racism, discrimination in healthcare, and social inequities. Too often, these outcomes are overlooked, and Black men deserve better.
Why Men’s Health Month Matters
Men are often taught to “tough it out”. But silence is not strength. It is a barrier to health and wellness. This month is a call to action—a reminder that talking about our health, especially for Black men, is not weakness but powerful.
What’s Affecting Men Today
Many of the most common health issues impacting men today, like heart disease, diabetes, and depression, are not just medical concerns but are connected to stress, access to care, and social norms.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men in the United States. But for Black men, there is a disproportionately higher risk. Studies show that Black people are 30% more likely to die from heart disease than white people, and Black men are twice as likely to die from stroke than white men. There are many reasons as to why Black men face higher disparities, including high blood pressure, structural racism, and environmental stressors. High blood pressure shows up earlier and more severely in Black men, with 57% having hypertension in 2017-2018. This was 7% higher than White men. Structural racism and environmental stressors like food deserts, unsafe neighborhoods, and chronic exposure to discrimination make it harder to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What You Can Do
Preventing heart disease starts with knowing your numbers like blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and BMI through regular checkups.
Staying active even just for 10-15 minutes a day to start, eating more whole foods, cutting back on salt, and maintaining a healthy weight all play a big role.
Learn more small steps you can take that can make a big difference in protecting your heart's health.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer impacts all men but impacts Black men more. Black men are disproportionately impacted by more aggressive prostate cancers, are diagnosed later, and have higher mortality rates than White men. Research shows Black men have low rates of screenings and are less likely to receive intensive treatment for prostate cancer compared to White men. Factors such as socioeconomic, genetic predisposition, and environment increase the prevalence of prostate cancer in Black men. Black men often do not have equitable access to medical care services such as screenings that are vital for early detection.
In addition to socioeconomic reasons, genetic markers increase the risk of prostate cancer in Black men. Black men are also more likely to live in areas with high levels of air pollution which can increase the risk of prostate cancer.
What You Can Do
Lowering your risk for prostate cancer includes maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and eating a well-balanced diet that is low in sugars and processed foods.
Try to lower your exposure to harmful chemicals like herbicides and pesticides.
Going to your doctor for regular checkups can help detect cancer sooner.
Mental Health
About one in ten men face a mental health challenge such as depression or anxiety. Less than half of these men seek help. For the Black community, mental health is a crisis, with suicide being the third leading cause of death as of 2022. Black men face an increased stigma against mental health challenges and seeking help. Mental health issues have been associated with weakness, which makes many men feel embarrassed to seek help. Another reason Black men may not be comfortable with seeking mental health help is due to historical discrimination and racism in the healthcare system.
What You Can Do
Take time to learn how mental health challenges can show up in your life and how experiences like racism and discrimination might be affecting you.
Talk to someone you trust, whether it’s a friend, family member, therapist, or support group.
Know that your feelings are valid and you do not have to carry them alone.
Make self-care and activities you enjoy a priority in your life.
If you or someone you love is experiencing signs of depression or any mental health challenges, there is help:
Call 988 - The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a 24/7 hotline for people who are in a crisis, have thoughts of suicide, or just need someone to talk to. Call or text 988. You can also chat at 988lifeline.org
Mental health resources:
Local Black Therapist, Gidai Maaza, LMFT: https://www.instagram.com/p/DKftU6ROa9A/
Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health: 559-600-4099
Nami Fresno offers free, confidential 90-minute mental health support group meetings for any adults who have experienced symptoms of a mental health condition.
Step Up For Him
June is also Men’s Mental Health Month! From June 1 to June 15, the Step Up For Him campaign from HeadsUpGuys invites us all to move with purpose. HeadsUpGuys is a leading global resource developed by the University of British Columbia, dedicated to supporting men’s mental health through education, self-assessment tools, and professional guidance. This annual campaign highlights the silent struggles that many men face, especially around mental health, and encourages communities to take meaningful steps to support.
Learn more here
Learn more about Men’s Mental Health Month here
Sources:
Anxiety & Depression Association of America. (2023, January 5). Men’s Mental Health | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. Adaa.org. https://adaa.org/find-help/by-demographics/mens-mental-health
Blankenship, H. (n.d.). Why Black Men Don’t Open Up: Mental Health Stigma In The Black Community. Vermont Health Equity Initiative. https://www.vermonthealthequity.org/stories-and-news/why-black-men-dont-open-up-mental-health-stigma-in-the-black-community
CDC. (2024, April 24). About Men and Heart Disease. Heart Disease. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/men-and-heart-disease.html
HeadsUpGuys. (2025, May 8). Step Up For Him - HeadsUpGuys. HeadsUpGuys. https://headsupguys.org/step-up-for-him/
Lillard, J. W., Moses, K. A., Mahal, B. A., & George, D. J. (2022). Racial disparities in Black men with prostate cancer: A literature review. Cancer, 128(21), 3787–3795. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.34433
MensHealthMonth.org. (n.d.). Men’s Health Month – Celebrated Each June. https://menshealthmonth.org/
Office of Minority Health. (2024). Mental and Behavioral Health – Black/African Americans. Office of Minority Health. https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/mental-and-behavioral-health-blackafrican-americans
Smith, B. (2021, February 25). Heart disease and racial disparities: Why heart disease is more common in Black patients and how to prevent it. Www.uchicagomedicine.org. https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/heart-and-vascular-articles/heart-disease-and-racial-disparities
Smith, J. (2024, September 27). Why Black Men Are 70% More Likely to Get Prostate Cancer - BlackDoctor.org. BlackDoctor.org. https://blackdoctor.org/why-black-men-are-70-more-likely-to-get-prostate-cancer/
