Washington Needs a Commission on Boys and Men

Be the First in Washington to Earn This New Men’s Health Certification | Our Interview with Armin Brott

An online course by Healthy Men Inc. aims to improve people’s knowledge of issues unique to boys and men’s health and to inspire all of us to make the healthcare system more guy-friendly. The Certified Men’s Health Educator (CMHE) course can be completed online in around six hours. It is designed for a wide range of participants — not just healthcare providers — and it has received positive reviews from the 70+ people who’ve completed the course since its soft launch last year.

Armin Brott, the co-creator and narrator, spoke to us about the course’s content, how the course was created, and the ways in which the healthcare system in the United States is not yet fully welcoming and inclusive toward men.

This is the first and only comprehensive course that focuses on boys and men’s unique health needs and challenges. The course is built to benefit healthcare professionals in any discipline, health educators, primary care providers and staff, faith-based organizations, teachers, social service providers, coaches, community leaders, and anyone else who works with boys and men.

Engaging with the healthcare system is so unappealing to men that 77% would rather go shopping with their wife or significant other and 72% would rather clean the bathroom or mow the lawn than see a doctor.

– A national survey by the Cleveland Clinic

See related: June 30 is Sperm Count Decline Awareness Day, highlighting a critical men’s health issue

Titles of the modules in the CMHE course include:

  • Major Determinants of Health for Males
  • How to Connect with Men, Women, & Their Families about Men’s Health
  • A Guide to Planning Successful Men’s Health Programs and Initiatives
  • Special Considerations for Rural Men’s Health
  • And More…

Healthy Men Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose leaders are in multiple U.S. states. Here in Washington, Washington Initiative for Boys and Men is leading the advocacy for House Bill 1270, which would establish a Washington State Commission on Boys and Men. This proposed commission would focus on improving the physical and mental health of males, among other indicators of their well-being.

We would love to see a dozen Washingtonians earn this CMHE certification by the end 2023. Will you be the first?

See related: Department of Health Neglects Gender Gap in Drug Overdose Deaths