Breaking Down Barriers to Better Health

"National Men's Health Week was created in 1994 as a campaign to help educate and support men, boys, and their families about the importance of positive health attitudes and preventative health practices." - Brown University Health 

Over the years I have learned a thing or two in my life about how important taking care of our health is to live a happy and successful life. As CEO & President, our IST Management leadership takes as many opportunities as possible to connect our employees with helpful information and resources to best manage their overall health. As employees, team leaders, business owners, and community members....we face different struggles daily. The good news is that many of us are motivated and committed to keeping ourselves and our communities healthy. It does take a bit extra time but trust me...it's worth it! 

Embracing Difference Through Connection 

I think we have more in common with our fellow Americans than differences! Our experiences help us build relationships with people of different backgrounds. As we see with IST’s countless Gives Back initiatives, many of us struggle with different health conditions, lifestyles, or traumatic experiences, but learning about what makes everyone different can lead to more impactful connections. Life is all about giving back.. helping others in need in very practical ways 

Community is key. We have to make safe spaces where those near us, be it coworkers, neighbors, or even two seemingly unrelatable strangers at the park, can connect rather than feel judged. 

June is Men’s Health Awareness Month 

• Men 15-65 years of age are significantly less likely than women to seek preventive care services, and they are more likely to report not having a primary care provider. (Brown University Health) 
• According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, men are almost four times more likely to die by suicide than women, and more than 6 million men in the U.S. experience symptoms of depression every year. (Be Well Illinois) 
• 49% of men felt more depressed than they admitted to the people in their lives. 

Health is Wealth! 

Talking about promoting positive physical and mental health habits can be overwhelming conversations. It’s not weird to have an "it's not going to happen to me" or "I'll kick that bad habit one day" attitude about prevention-based healthcare. Open and educational conversations are our superpower, especially when we have so much to worry about, look out for, test for, and manage. We all have, or know someone who, struggles with physical and mental health. Some of you know my story... I've battled chronic back pain for years and had a family member who struggled with addiction. But through those challenges I’ve learned comforting and helpful tools to work through these struggles, and they all start with open conversations, free of stigma or negative perceptions.   

Every new day is a blessing. Talking about these struggles, like chronic pain or stress, depression, genetic diseases, or addiction, is influential in showing us we’re not alone. We can all learn something by supporting one another and working to live happy, healthy lives.