Mr Whitehead is the Men's Health Clinical Nurse Consultant at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, and recently presented at the Global Action on Men's Health and the World Congress of Public Health.

This week is Men's Health Week and features the theme; "building healthy environments for men and boys", and he says dealing with loneliness is one part of the solution.

"Cardiovascular disease is heightened in men who are lonely, as well as mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety

"Loneliness is not something we typically screen for in hospitals. A person can be seen with a health complaint and we'll treat the symptoms, but the social drivers that are affecting this are often ¬- almost exclusively - missed."

Most Australians will experience loneliness at some point in their lives and about 33% reported an episode of loneliness between 2001 and 2009, with 40% experiencing more than one episode.

Living alone and not being in a relationship are substantial risk factors for social isolation and loneliness, yet the 2016 Census found 25% of Australians live alone.

Living alone does not necessarily mean you are lonely, but many people, particularly men who do live in solo households, can report lower social connections.

Mr Whitehead says it is widely acknowledged that as men age, their close friendship circle reduces in size, which is not the same (and often the opposite) for women.

Those who don't have social connections, can at times, fall into depressive states and find it difficult to navigate their way out or seek help.

Activities such as volunteering, joining an interest group or even a dog park are simple ways men can begin to broaden their social circle.

"For men, often the longest mile is from their front door to another door," he says. "We need to strengthen the ability for men make that short journey across the loneliness divide and reap the rewards that social connection brings."

"Our society is improved when we begin to develop connections that lead to friendship, and which then add additional meaning into our lives," he says. Continue reading

He is part of a team that will be receiving receiving the "Special Judges" award at the 20th annual New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards.

The award comes in recognition of a workshop designed to raise awareness of health issues facing men and providing positive strategies dealing with them.

One for the blokes, is a two-hour session that creates a comfortable and down to earth space for men to discuss what happens in their bodies and brains when they get a bit ‘bogged down'.

Roe, along with Michael Scott (General Manager Wellington City Council), Trish Knight (Manager, Staff Wellness Victoria University Wellington) and Phil Becker (Senior Manager Wellington City Council), will receive the award on 25 May at the Sky City Convention Centre, Auckland.

More than 600 ‘blokes' have now attended the workshops.

One for the blokes caught the eye of Neil Sorensen, General Manager of New Zealand Rugby and will soon be offered throughout the organisation.

"The session was without doubt the most important workshop that I've attended in years," said Mr Sorensen.

Describing the session as "brutally honest", Mr Sorensen says the workshop "strikes at the heart of what it means to be a Kiwi male."

Source

• sm.org.nz