To celebrate International Men’s Day (Monday 19th November), the Institute of Health and Society are hosting our very first International Men’s Day event. The event will be a talk and discussion with Professor Ian Banks on men’s health, entitled “Does the Y chromosome seriously damage your health?”

Every year, on the 19th of November, International Men’s Day is celebrated by over 60 countries around the world. It gives us all an opportunity to think about men’s and boy’s health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models.

It encourages people of all genders to come together and celebrate men and boys in all their diversity, but also to consider how we can work to address issues facing males today, such as:

• The high male suicide rate
• The challenges faced by boys and men at all stages of education including attainment
• The challenges faced by the most marginalised men and boys in society (for instance, homeless men, boys in care and the high rate of male deaths in custody)
• Male victims of violence, including sexual violence
• The challenges faced by men as parents, particularly new fathers and separated fathers
• Male victims and survivors of sexual abuse, rape, sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based crime, stalking and slavery
• The negative portrayal of men, boys and fathers
• Men’s health, shorter life expectancy and workplace deaths

It is this final issue which is the focus of Professor Ian Banks’ talk on the 19th November. He will examine some of the myths surrounding men’s health, including the question of what is “avoidable” male death and ill health, and the reasons for the huge variation in morbidity and mortality between women and men, and also between men themselves.

Prof Banks is an A&E doctor and a GP. He’s also the BMA’S official spokesman on men’s health issues, president of the European Men’s Health Forum and former president of the England & Wales Men’s Health Forum. He has written numerous books, including the Haynes Workshop Manuals on men, women, babies, and sex, and he was the Medical Editor for The Men’s Health Magazine for six years.

The talk is at 12.30 – 2.00pm on Monday 19th November in L2.8 of the Medical School.

It is open to all members of staff, regardless of gender, and will appeal to anyone interested in male or female health, as well as those who wants to show their support for International Men’s Day. Tea and coffee will be provided. Please register to attend here.