- Endo, Vault Health, the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) and Men's Health Network
(MHN) join forces to launch Healthy Now: A Men's Health
Coalition™ to encourage men to make all aspects of
their health—physical, mental and sexual—a priority
- New national survey underscores the need for and importance of
the education and access to resources provided by this new
program
- VisitHealthyNow.com offers information on physical, mental and
sexual health issues and access to a free virtual consultation
through Vault Health
DUBLIN, June 9, 2022
/CNW/ -- A recent survey of 1,517 U.S. men ages 18-80 commissioned
by Men's Health magazine publisher Hearst media company found that less than half
of men surveyed rated their physical (40%), mental (42%) and sexual
(35%) health as excellent or very good.1 Lack of
knowledge around sexual and mental health was particularly
significant. Over half of all men surveyed reported they didn't
know about ways to improve their overall mental health
(54%).1 Of the sexually active men (n=1,331) surveyed,
over half (53%) stated they didn't know about how to improve their
sexual health. To address this public health gap, Endo
International plc (NASDAQ: ENDP), in partnership with Vault
Health, the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) and Men's Health Network
(MHN), launched Healthy Now: A Men's Health
Coalition™, which encourages men to make their
physical, sexual and mental health a priority through awareness and
access to resources.
The Healthy Now website, www.VisitHealthyNow.com, provides
educational information about men's health conditions, guidance on
how men should take care of themselves as they age and access to a
free virtual consultation through Vault Health's secure portal—all
from the privacy and comfort of their home.
The Healthy Now partners believe that providing health education
and access to a healthcare provider is one solution to motivating
men to prioritize their health. The Hearst survey supports that notion: 73% of all
surveyed men wanted access to information on medical conditions
that might affect them, and of the surveyed men who tried
telemedicine in the last two years (n=788), 50% preferred the
convenience of a virtual appointment to an in-person doctor's
office visit.1 Additionally, while most men
surveyed had health insurance (89%),1 high
healthcare-related costs or lack of coverage have led to
approximately two-thirds of men ages 18-34 (69%) and half of men
ages 35 and older (51%) to take actions that could potentially
negatively impact their health, including ignoring symptoms they
hope will go away and postponing or cancelling/skipping a doctor
appointment.1
"The tendency among men to ignore symptoms due to healthcare
costs could leave them vulnerable to illnesses later in life or a
worsening of chronic conditions," said Ravi
Tayi, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer for Endo. "Endo
strives to be a force for good, and through Healthy Now, we want to
help change these concerning statistics by encouraging men to take
charge of their own health."
Free Virtual Consultation
At www.VisitHealthyNow.com,
men can sign up for a free 15-minute virtual consultation through
Vault Health's secure portal. During the consultation, a Vault
Health representative can provide an initial health evaluation and
help determine if a follow-up appointment with a healthcare
provider is needed.
The initial 15-minute appointment is completely free for men,
regardless of their healthcare insurance status. Following the free
consultation, Vault Health will help determine the appropriate next
steps and can help explore options for payment/reimbursement if
they continue care through Vault Health.
"The COVID-19 pandemic increased many men's apprehension about
going to a doctor's office or an urgent care center. By offering
them a free initial virtual consultation through Healthy Now, we
hope to bridge this gap," said Alex
Pastuszak, MD, PhD, President of Clinical Care and Chief
Clinical Officer at Vault Health. "We believe the convenience
of a virtual appointment, in the privacy and comfort of their own
home, will help men take that first step in getting the help they
need."
Additional Survey Results
Among men surveyed who have
been sexually active (n=1,331):
- More than half (69%) said they were open to advice on ways to
have a healthier and better sex life.1
- More than one-quarter (27%) would rather "get a root canal"
than talk about a sexual health issue.1
- While two-thirds (66%) said it was important to regularly do a
"below-the-belt" self-exam, 47% said they didn't have a clue how to
do one.1
- More than one-third (39%) reported they have experienced a
sexual health issue or problem.1
- Of those men who reported they experienced a sexual health
issue (n=514), only 51% discussed such "below-the-belt" issues with
any medical professional (e.g., urologist, therapist/counselor or
any other doctor or medical professional), and only 44% discussed
with their spouse/partner.1
Misperceptions about mental health still exist among all
surveyed men, but there is willingness to seek help:
- While more than one-third said that only individuals with
serious mental/emotional health issues that prevent them from
functioning should seek therapy (33%) and issues like depression
and anxiety are something you have to control on your own (39%),
nearly two-thirds (64%) were open to seeing a therapist if they
experienced emotional issues.1
- Men may also need more support from their loved ones. Nearly
half (46%) reported that they only sometimes (28%), rarely (13%) or
never (5%) receive mental and emotional support they need from
family or friends.1
The Hearst survey of 1,517 men
ages 18-80 captured feedback about their perspectives on health
maintenance, doctor visits and their physical, sexual and mental
well-being. The survey was conducted online in March 2022 by Research Solutions, Inc.
"We know from research that physical, mental and sexual health
are all connected. A physical ailment, for example, can affect your
mental health, and a mental health issue can lead to problems with
sexual health," said Salvatore Giorgianni, PharmD, Senior
Science Advisor at Men's Health Network. "Through Healthy Now,
we're educating men that it's vital to take care of all three."
"Most men don't recognize that below-the-belt issues may be a
barometer for their overall health and a sign of other health
problems" said Mohit Khera, MD,
President-elect of SMSNA. "Working with our industry and advocacy
partners, we want to offer men a trusted resource for information
that addresses their health concerns, including their sexual and
reproductive health."
About Healthy Now: A Men's Health
Coalition™
Healthy Now is committed to making
access to care available to all men. We recognize that access to
healthcare can be challenging for some men, and they may feel
stress and even fear about seeking help for physical, mental and
sexual health concerns. A free initial 15-minute virtual
consultation may help men determine the appropriate next steps for
their health. The free consultation will be offered through the end
of December 2022 in the U.S.
only.
For additional information—including the ability to book a free
virtual consultation—go to VisitHealthyNow.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information in this
press release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
and any applicable Canadian securities legislation including, but
not limited to, the statements by Drs. Tayi, Pastuszak, Giorgianni
and Khera, as well as other statements regarding the Healthy Now
initiative. Statements including words or phrases such as
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "plan,"
"will," "may," "look forward," "intend," "future," "potential" or
similar expressions are forward-looking statements. All
forward-looking statements in this press release reflect Endo's
current expectations of future events based on existing trends and
information and represent Endo's judgment only as of the date of
this press release. Actual results may differ materially and
adversely from current expectations based on a number of factors
affecting Endo's businesses including, among other things, the
outcome of our strategic review, contingency planning and any
potential restructuring; the timing, impact or results of any
pending or future litigation, investigations, proceedings or
claims, including opioid, tax and antitrust related matters; and
the impact of competition including loss of exclusivity and generic
competition. The reader is cautioned not to rely on any
forward-looking statements and Endo expressly disclaims any intent
or obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as
required by law. Additional information concerning risk factors,
including those referenced above, can be found in press releases
issued by Endo, as well as Endo's public periodic filings with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and with securities
regulators in Canada, including
the discussion under the heading "Risk Factors" in Endo's most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q or other filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission.
References:
1. Hearst Media Survey. 1,517 U.S. adult
men ages 18-80 regarding men's healthcare concerns. Conducted
March 2022.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-survey-of-over-1-500-men-shows-more-than-half-were-unsure-of-how-to-improve-their-mental-and-sexual-health-new-partnership-aims-to-change-that-through-education-and-free-virtual-consultations-301564569.html
SOURCE Endo International plc