Earlier this month, men and their families joined forces to put men’s health first at the Men’s Health Matters event hosted by the local Freemasons.
Held at the Stones Corner Masonic Centre, the event was part of a series of state-wide sessions run by Hand Heart Pocket the Charity of Freemasons Queensland, in collaboration with community health non-profit CheckUP, focusing on improving men’s mental and physical health.
The awareness campaign was launched in September last year and is travelling across the state, visiting towns and supporting local communities.
Hand Heart Pocket Chief Executive Officer Gary Mark said empowering people to lead better lives was an important part of the charity’s work in the community.
“Improving men’s mental and physical health both at a state-wide and grassroots level is part of our charitable focus, which is why we’ve partnered with CheckUP to bring this potentially life-saving initiative to communities across Queensland,” Mr Mark said.
“Hand Heart Pocket, in partnership with CheckUP, is committed to providing the support and encouragement men need in order to lead better lives through these crucial local events.”
The free information session was delivered by a registered psychologist and covered a range of topics such as nutrition and physical activity, early detection of cancer, diabetes and heart disease, mental health and relationships.
CheckUP CEO Ann Maree Liddy said the event provided a safe forum for men to talk about their experiences and health journey.“Through this event, attendees were encouraged to put their health first and actually have a conversation about how they are feeling both mentally and physically,” Ms Liddy said.
Baden Powell Freemason David Roberts said the local event was crucial in encouraging more open and positive conversations around improving the lives of men in the area.
“The successful Men’s Health Matters event marked a turning point in our community which I hope sees more men and their families taking a proactive approach to addressing men’s health,” Mr Roberts said.
