A doctor’s personal view on men’s health

Men’s health can be challenging. Life is tough, and we are all thrown up challenges along the way. How we deal with them can have a massive impact upon our quality of life, and now, as we enter Men’s Health Week, is as good a time to raise this topic and start having serious conversations.

Everyone has a different experience

I’ve seen and experienced a few things in my fifty plus years. From growing up as a policeman’s kid in country NSW, through to university to become a pharmacist and then on to being a police officer myself, through to becoming a doctor and then having a family, I got to witness first hand how men’s health is managed, both good and bad.

I’ve seen men of all ages refuse to talk about their fears and concerns, for a multitude of reasons. Be it the lack of available support, through to the fear of criticism, because they are considered ‘weak’ or ‘not tough enough’. From men drinking their problems away to taking drug overdoses, through to taking their own lives, I have experienced it all. As a doctor, as a friend, as a family member.

I’ve experienced it too

And I have not been immune to the troubles of life. From having to deal with having my family torn apart, only being allowed to see my children every other week, to dealing with the legal system and the inevitable financial stress that follows, to being told I’ve got prostate cancer. There’s no rule book, no map to follow when these problems arise. You just have to deal with it and find a way to move forward.

What helped on my journey

So what did I do, when I found obstacles being thrown my way? I sought help from all the usual places: my partner, my family, my friends and, my GP. And the most important and relevant advice came from my GP.

As a GP myself, I realise the benefits of having someone to talk to, someone I can trust. Someone to help guide me through life’s challenges. A trusted, knowledgeable person, who could listen to my worries and problems, and guide me in the right direction.

Passionate about men’s health

My own personal experiences have only made me more passionate about men’s health matters. Men have to understand that there are options available to assist. And if I can’t help them as a GP, I can at least point them in the right direction.

So this year fellas, make it a priority to get in and see your GP. It will cost you nothing more than your time, but I reckon it’ll be time well spent.

Dr Ian Walsh