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Men's Health Month

Men's Health Month is observed each June. It was established by Congress in 1994. Men's Health Week falls in the final full week before Father's Day. The focus is on encouraging men to seek preventive care, know their health numbers, and address conditions before they become crises.

For Black men specifically, the stakes are acute. Black men have among the lowest life expectancy of any demographic group in the United States: 70.3 years at birth, compared to 78.4 years for the overall population. In 2021, Black men had a 26% higher incidence of death than non-Hispanic white men. The gap is not random. It reflects documented disparities in rates of hypertension, prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and HIV, combined with lower rates of preventive screening and care-seeking behavior.

Three conditions stand out. Hypertension: 58.4% of Black men have it, compared to 49.8% of white men, and Black men develop it earlier in life. Prostate cancer: Black men are approximately 70% more likely than white men to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime and are more than twice as likely to die from it. HIV: Black men account for 35% of all new HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men, despite representing a fraction of that population.

These are not destiny. They are measurable, addressable risks. Men's Health Month creates a cultural opening to have conversations that data shows Black men are less likely to initiate on their own. Preventive care is not a sign of weakness. Missing it is what kills people early.

The data, plainly

What you can do this month

For individuals: - Schedule a primary care appointment if you have not seen a doctor in the past year. Start with a blood pressure check, cholesterol panel, blood glucose, and PSA discussion if you are 40 or older and Black. - Ask your provider about prostate cancer screening. The American Cancer Society recommends Black men discuss PSA testing starting at age 40 because of higher lifetime risk. - Get an HIV test. It is a routine part of preventive care, not a comment on your behavior. Knowing your status is the first step to either protection (PrEP) or treatment. - Talk to at least one man in your life this month about his health. Cultural norms that frame care-seeking as weakness kill people. Peer conversation breaks them faster than campaigns. - If you are experiencing symptoms of depression (persistent low mood, loss of interest, fatigue, irritability) talk to your provider. Black men are significantly less likely to receive mental health treatment despite comparable rates of psychological distress.

For providers: - Initiate prostate cancer screening conversations with Black male patients starting at age 40, per ACS and NMA guidelines. - Use every encounter as a screening touchpoint. Black men make fewer primary care visits, so flu shots, injury visits, and urgent care are opportunities to check blood pressure and offer HIV testing.

Resources

Sources

  1. Office of Minority Health, HHS: Black/African American Health
  2. CDC NCHS FastStats: Black Health
  3. Morehouse School of Medicine: Prostate Cancer Risk Greatest in African American Men
  4. HIV.gov: HIV Basics -- Data and Trends
  5. New York State DOH: June is Men's Health Month 2025

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