Men’s health: care for the whole person

A serious health condition affects more than your body: it can trigger emotions, strain relationships, drain finances and unsettle you mentally.

Top 3 messages about men’s health care:

1. Men’s health conditions can have social and mental effects on top of the physical impacts.

2. Care for your social and mental needs is as important as treatment for your physical health condition.

3. Support is available for the emotional and practical sides of your health ‒ and it’s okay to ask for what you need.

Giorgio, 68, had noticed a few vague changes in his physical health, but he put off seeing the doctor until, one day, he finally ‘got around to it’. A few tests later, he had a diagnosis that meant more tests, a treatment plan and a diary-load of medical appointments. Life had suddenly changed, and Giorgio didn’t know how to handle the emotional and practical impact.

A serious health condition affects more than your body: it can trigger emotions, strain relationships, drain finances and unsettle you mentally. Men, and older men in particular, may feel unprepared for navigating all this ‒ especially if health care services only deal with the physical problem.

To be fully effective, men’s health care requires holistic attention to their physical, mental and social wellbeing, says one prominent health care centre in Sydney.

Holistic care for men’s health

The St Vincent’s NELUNE Men’s Health Centre at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, is addressing this gap in men’s health care. Hospital clinicians realised that men receiving excellent medical treatment were often left to manage other effects of their condition ‒ the emotional load, practical arrangements, relationship strain ‒ on their own.

The multi-disciplinary service developed a broader model of men’s health care that gives equal attention to a patient’s emotional and social needs. The centre offers patients a centralised access point for all their health care needs, including social and psychological support. As well as expert medical specialists like urologists and oncologists, men can be connected to physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers and other specialists who can support them with whatever they need as they navigate their unexpected medical journey.

The NELUNE Men’s Health Centre also works on advancing care delivery and breaking down barriers in accessing treatment for prostate cancer and other men’s health conditions. This work is helping to change the treatment journey and health outcomes for many men.

Prostate cancer care

Prostate cancer is one of the top men’s health issues and the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Australian men, and it’s a main area of focus for the St Vincent’s NELUNE Centre. This cancer often shows no symptoms in its early stages, so a diagnosis can be a big shock. The challenges are emotional as well as physical: concerns about continence, sexual intimacy and mortality, for example. If a patient receives treatment only for the tumour, other affected areas of his life and wellbeing will remain disrupted and difficult.

Recognising this, the NELUNE Centre offers coordinated access to a wider range of treatment options and medical services. Alongside the oncology team, a prostate cancer patient can meet with a psychologist to work through the emotional effects of the condition. He can talk to a continence physiotherapist about managing the side effects of his treatment and a social worker to help with practicalities like financial assistance and social support. A dedicated ‘nurse navigator’ helps him coordinate all the appointments and keep track of his treatment plan.

Other men’s health conditions

In many minds, the phrase ‘men’s health’ immediately brings prostate cancer to mind. However, there are other men’s health conditions, such as male breast cancer and penile or testicular cancers, Peyronie’s disease and erectile or urinary issues. These may trigger emotional and social challenges ‒ from embarrassment and discomfort to relationship troubles and loss of confidence ‒ to deal with on top of the physical treatment.

If you’ve been diagnosed with a men’s health condition, it’s important to recognise that it will likely affect areas of your life that lie outside your physical treatment. Your mental and social wellbeing are as important as your physical health. Talk to your GP or specialist about the social and emotional fallout of your condition ‒ not as separate issues, but part of the same treatment conversation.

The challenge of asking for help

The NELUNE Centre knows that medical treatment is more effective if it doesn’t separate the physical and the personal. However, to get the best outcomes, patients need to reach out for what they need. Many men ‒ particularly older men ‒ are used to managing things themselves and not making a fuss. That’s why Giorgio didn’t ‘get around to’ seeing the doctor for so long.

All kinds of services are there to help you get through your diagnosis, treatment and impact on your life. But they can only work if you engage with them. And if your GP or specialist doesn’t think to offer them, you can still ask for suggestions and referrals to whatever care you need to support your wellbeing.

For Giorgio, his treatment plan included a referral to a psychologist, who supported him through the emotional ups and downs of his cancer experience. A social work service helped Giorgio and his wife work through the effects of his condition on their retirement plans.

Protect your health by scheduling annual check-ups with your doctor, or more frequently if they recommend it. And if you have any concerns at all about your health or wellbeing, don’t hesitate to see your doctor. That’s what they’re there for!

More information about men’s health

There are many support services, resources and health centres across Australia especially for men. Take a look at these:

Healthy Male ‒ an online resource of evidence-based and practical health information for Australian men

‘101 reasons to see your GP’ – the 2026 Men’s Health Week campaign, with tips and links on a range of topics

MensLine Australia – a free telephone and online counselling service supporting men 24/7 with emotional wellbeing

Men’s Health – the Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s round-up of information, developments, news and policy

National Men’s Health Strategy 2020‒2030 – Australia’s national approach to improving the health of men and boys and reducing inequities between different groups

Family Planning Australia – fact sheets and news about men’s sexual and reproductive health issues

Black Dog Institute – mental health information and resources for everyone

Quit – Australian online support and information for quitting smoking and vaping

The Australian Men’s Sheds Association – community hubs for ‘shoulder to shoulder’ social interaction, as described in this Compass article

About St Vincent’s NELUNE Men’s Health Centre

This article is based on information from the St Vincent’s NELUNE Men’s Health Centre, a unique, multi-disciplinary men’s health service at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. By providing equitable access to medical care and facilities, the centre meets the holistic needs of men from all walks of life during treatment for prostate and other conditions. The NELUNE Men’s Health Centre was established with funding support from The Nelune Foundation and generous donors to St Vincent’s Curran Foundation.

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