June is Men’s Health Month. This annual observance encourages men and boys to be proactive in their health by implementing healthy living decisions.

This year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) is focusing on improving health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) men through its theme Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections. This theme calls on each of us to better understand how the unique environments, cultures, histories, and circumstances (known as social determinants of health, or “SDOH”) of racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN men impact their overall health.

On average, men in the United States die nearly 6 years earlier than women and are at higher risk for many serious diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer, and HIV. In addition, men experience unique health problems that don’t affect women, like prostate cancer. Negative impacts of SDOH factors, like economic stability and educational access and quality, can increase their risk for poor health outcomes.

OMH is committed to working with public health and community-based partners to Be the Source for Better Health by providing racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN men and boys quality, equitable, and respectful care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, economic and environmental circumstances, and health literacy levels. When patients are provided with culturally and linguistically appropriate information, they are better able to create healthier outcomes for themselves, their families, and their communities.