Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Leeds Beckett academics lead black men’s health discussion
Alan White, Professor of Men’s Health, and Psychologist Dr Peter Branney will lead open discussions at the Thackray Medical Museum, along with Pastor George Crawford, BHI Health Ambassador.
Heather Nelson, Chief Executive of BHI, explained: “The event is the final leg of a saturated method of awareness raising amongst predominantly black African men. Surveys and reports have shown since 2002 the disproportionate prevalence amongst black African and black African Caribbean men in regards to prostate cancer. One in four black Men as opposed to one in eight white indigenous men will present with prostate cancer and at a young age (source: BME Cancer Voice Cancer Patient Information Survey 2013). Leeds, specifically South Leeds, showed a particularly unfavourable status of being the worst result for prostate cancer in black Men (source: Hear Me Now 2014). It is in response to this that NHS Leeds South and East commissioned BHI to raise awareness of this issue amongst those most affected and we plan to make available a report on our prostate cancer awareness drive.”
Dr Branney is a Psychologist who has undertaken a programme of award-winning, internationally-leading work exploring how men engage with healthcare, how they experience threats to their health, and how to improve their experience of healthcare.
He commented: “My research has shown that many men see General Practitioners as the only legitimate option for seeking help and therefore wait until symptom severity justifies attendance. At this event, I will be engaging the audience in a discussion about the meaning of the symptoms that may or may not indicate prostate cancer and the ways in which we can seek help.”
A new report putting the spotlight on the health of men in Leeds was published on Monday 13 June, led by Professor Alan White within our Centre for Men’s Health. The State of Men’s Health in Leeds report was commissioned by Leeds City Council and provides the first complete picture of the breadth of issues affecting men’s health in the city.
Professor White said: “My discussion on Thursday will mostly be focused onto the State of Men's Health report. I will discuss the increase in the older male population and the increasing number of older men from the ethnic minorities. I will give the data on prostate cancer for Leeds and reiterate the increased risk for African Caribbean men and their need to get an early diagnosis.”
The event will be an opportunity for academics, service providers and service users to get together and discuss issues around prostate cancer and the targeted communities.