Is Running the Key to Improving Men’s Mental Health?
According to the Men’s Health Network, of the 9 million elderly living alone in the U.S., a whopping 80% of them are women. What’s happening to the men? Why are they passing at a younger age than their female counterparts?
Some reasons are clear. For instance, boys and men face more peril than women due to a higher rate of risky behaviors and activities, such as street fighting and car racing. Secondly, more men than women hold highly hazardous occupations, such as firefighting and deep-sea fishing.
However, one surprising reason for the life expectancy gender gap, listed on a report created by the Men’s Health Network titled, Silent Health Crisis, is that men avoid seeking help when medically necessary.
Why does this happen? And, how can we help to change it?
Reports, such as this online article, suggest that men are not likely to seek advice for many treatable or preventable health issues. For some men, the stigma of appearing weak or “needy” keeps them away from medical guidance in getting better.
Men who suffer from debilitating mental issues such as depression and anxiety are the largest percentage of those who don’t seek help.
Fortunately, there are a good number of men who have found help through regular exercise, such as running.
One notable runner who credits his trail habit (along with his wife) for saving his life is ultra-runner Rob Krar. Click here to view a stunning video about Rob and Christina Bauer and their connection to the Grand Canyon’s trails and how they’ve helped them both cope with Rob’s debilitating depression.
Runner’s World contributor, Scott Douglas writes in his article, For Depression and Anxiety, Running is Unique Therapy, “For those of us with depression or anxiety, we need running like a diabetic needs insulin.”
His article goes on to support the popular theory that regular exercise will dramatically improve a mood immediately upon the finish of a run. That theory can be attributed to endorphins and other mood boosting brain chemicals. His article goes further into a runner’s improvement of mental health over time by building resilience to stress and by creating a “look what I can accomplish” mentality.
That sense of accomplishment is exactly what we love to celebrate at Running Awards & Apparel. And, by celebrating other runners and their accomplishments we help those who struggle from all types of disorders, including mental health issues.
This June, during Men’s Health Awareness Month, we give a shout out to the men who choose to run for better health from head to foot.
We celebrate you!
About Kathy Toynbee: Event Specialist, Marketing Manager with Running Awards & Apparel, a leading supplier of race medals, awards, and apparel for the running event industry. www.runningawardsandapparel.
