Men's Mental Health: Why Talking About it is Still Taboo

Men’s Mental Health

Six million American men suffer from depression every year. Many men attempt to treat mental illness themselves, and in the process, 1 in 5 men eventually develop alcohol or drug abuse.  Some try to cut out difficult emotions by attaching their self-worth to the successes in their work and social lives.  According to the National Institute of Mental Health, men are 4-times more likely to commit suicide than women.

Stigma about mental health is deadly.  Men deny their symptoms because they learn that acknowledging emotional pain is a sign of weakness, and asking for help is shameful.  However, depression does not disappear just because we ignore it; when it goes untreated, male depression may appear as insomnia, irritability, needless conflict, somatic complaints, or anger. This is "toxic masculinity": a portrayal of manhood that requires a guy to always be tough, in control, to resist change, and never to be vulnerable.  Those who are bound by a toxic masculine self-image often repress their emotions, even pleasant ones.  They are more likely to disrespect women, distrust others, be homophobic, and refuse to eat vegetables.

Symptoms of male depression are hard to detect because men hide them. Other medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, camouflage them, as, of course, do alcohol and other street drugs.   For older men, a drop in testosterone levels is also associated with symptoms of depression.  When men don't bring it up, caregivers may ask about emotional pain, the pain of the heart, with the same attention one might give to a question about a pain in the chest.  All pain deserves help.

The truth is that nobody is exempt from experiencing sadness, disappointment, or self-doubt.  Men and women are prone to depression and other mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, but men are less likely to get help.  Manic symptoms of bipolar can lead to poor decision-making and negatively affect your life.   90% of those diagnosed with Schizophrenia in early adulthood are men.  Psychosis, like depression, is a brain function, not a character flaw.  Hiding your symptoms won't make them go away, don't be ashamed to ask for help.

Lynn Schlossberger, LPC

Every Man Needs A Health Plan

Pride Month & Men’s Health Month

Allan Edmunds, FNP-C

Men's health is particularly relevant in June because it's Men's Health Month and Gay Pride month. What better time than now to highlight the need for men to see a medical provider for their primary and sexual health care needs. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Open Health's HAART Clinic offers an array of specialized services to our patients, including wellness visits, PReP/PEP, Hepatitis C treatment, HIV testing, and more.

LGBTQ+ Health

Recent studies have shown that "most LGBTQ patients want to be able to share their sexual orientation or gender identity with their healthcare provider but are often reluctant to open up because they fear they may be treated badly or even refused care." Open Health wants to change that. We aim to create an inclusive and culturally sensitive environment to reduce the stigma that LGBTQ patients experience. We strive to provide affordable, quality health care guided by our core values of commitment, compassion, diversity, integrity, and quality. We encourage all men—gay, straight, bisexual, and transgender—to see us for their annual medical visits as well as their regular sexual health care and STD screenings.

Men's Overall Health

Congress also feels that men’s health is of national importance, passing a bill in 1994 declaring the week before Father’s Day as men’s health week. This year in celebration of Father’s Day on Sunday, June 20, we encourage everyone to wear blue in support of their father, husband, son, or brother. For all the mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, and friends, we want you to: Encourage him to get seen! The sad truth is that statistically, men die five years earlier than women. Men are also less likely to have health insurance, impacting a man’s ability to be involved fathers, supportive partners, and engaged community members. Fortunately, most of the reasons for men’s shorter and less healthy lives are preventable! Health prevention starts with men seeing a health care provider regularly. These doctor visits help establish a patient’s baseline blood pressure, weight, and health status, plus the provider can check for issues like prostate cancer, depression, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Men can catch potentially dangerous conditions early by receiving annual check-ups and screenings, especially when they are still treatable. If you are sexually active, STD screenings are also important at any age. Statistics show men and women over the age of 65 now represent an increasingly large proportion of the STDs reported annually in the USA.

How to observe National Men’s Health Month

Tweak your Diet

Men's Health Month is an excellent opportunity to change the way you eat. Cut back on alcohol this month or up your intake of healthy fermented foods like sauerkraut and kefir. You can do anything for a month, and if you do it for a month, you can do it for life!

Set some goals

Use this month to take control of your health now and think about where you want it to be. Do you want to lose weight? Gain muscle? Eat more vegetables. Set small and achievable goals and work with your doctor to make them a reality.

Get educated

Take this opportunity to read about the common health issues specific to men and how you can prevent yourself from getting hurt! Check out the CDC for information on health issues that men face.

Allan Edmunds, FNP-C

Resources:

www.menshealthnetworks.org

www.health.org

Community Advisory Board

Join Open Health’s Community Advisory Board

Help improve the client services and patient care at Open Health. The new community advisory board (CAB) meets monthly to discuss ways to improve our health center. CAB members serve as a link between the patients, the community, and Open Health. Please call Dr. Barney at (225) 655-6422 or pick up an application at the clinic front desk.

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

Updated 3/22/2021 per new state vaccine guidelines.

Now Offering Drive-Thru COVID-19 Vaccines

Open Health is now offering COVID-19 vaccines in a convenient drive-thru clinic. Schedule an appointment with our nursing staff by calling us at (225) 655-6422.

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Information about Vaccine Drive-Thru Clinic

Do you qualify to receive the vaccine? You must meet one of these requirements:

• Pregnant women of any age

• Adults 18+

Do I have to be a patient of Open Health to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

No. Anyone can get the vaccine as long as they meet the requirements listed above.

Do I need an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine thru our drive-thru clinic?

Yes! Appointments are required. Please call us at (225) 655-6422 to schedule your COVID-19 vaccination. 

What should I bring to my vaccination appointment?

• Photo ID

• Insurance card

• Personnel working in the qualifying fields listed above must bring a paystub or badge to their vaccine appointment.

Contact us:

If you have questions, please call us at (225) 655-6422.

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Information about the covid-19 vaccine

COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.

How many vaccine shots do I need:

Open Health will give you two shots, 28 days apart. We will schedule your second shot when we make your appointment for your first vaccine shot.

Throughout the rest of your body

• Fever

• Chills

• Tiredness

• Headaches

On the arm where you got the shot

• Pain

• Swelling

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Have more questions about the covid-19 vaccine?

Visit the CDC to learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html

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We will update this site as additional information becomes available. 3/22/2021

National Children’s Dental Health Month

National Children’s Dental Health Month

According to the CDC, Tooth decay (cavity) is one of the most common chronic diseases of early childhood even though it is preventable.

Cavities occur when a buildup of dental plaque “eats” at tooth enamel causing a hole in the tooth to form. Plaque is a sticky substance that covers the teeth, and it is formed when bacteria in the moth combines with food and saliva.

Tips to decrease risk of cavities include:

·        Brushing twice a day for at least 2 minutes to prevent a buildup of plaque. Children under the age of 6 should be supervised by an adult to maximize efficiency.

·        Parents should refrain from putting infants approximately 6 months of age and older to bed with bottles filled with milk, formula or juice. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children who are seven or eight months of age no longer need to feed during the night. If your child must have a bottle to sleep, slowly dilute the milk or juice with water over a few weeks until your child is only drinking water.

·        Parents should encourage a diet for their children that is low in sugar and refined carbohydrates and increase fresh veggies, fruit and protein intake.

·        Schedule regular Dental Checkups. Dental exams are scheduled every 6 months. At each visit, the dentist will look for any signs of regular tooth decay, remove dental plaque and apply fluoride which can reverse and stop early decay in children.

·        Having your dentist apply Dental Sealants. Dental Sealants are plastic coatings that are usually placed on the chewing (top) surface of the permanent back teeth to help protect them from decay.

Poor oral health, including cavities and infections, can have a lifelong impact on a child. If you have any questions or concerns about cavity prevention, please contact our Dental Providers at Open Health Care Clinic.

Tamma Gray, DDS