2022 -- S 2999
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LC005543
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S TATE OF RHODE IS L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022
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SEN A TE RES O LU TIO N
PROCLAIMING JUNE OF 2022, TO BE "MEN'S HEALTH MONTH" IN THE STATE OF
RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Lombardo, Burke, Acosta, Picard,
Zurier, Archambault, DiPalma, and F Lombardi
Date Introduced: June 07, 2022
Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration
1 WHEREAS, As of 2019, men in the United States had a life expectancy of 76.3 years,
2 approximately five years less than women. Native American and African-American males have
3 even lower life expectancies. One of the reasons for this disparity is the fact that men are often
4 reluctant to go to the doctor, with studies showing that women go to the doctor twice as often as
5 men. Even when ill, many men will avoid seeing a doctor, with forty percent admitting to waiting
6 days before seeing a doctor, and seventeen percent admitting to waiting up to a week before
7 seeing a doctor when ill; and
8 WHEREAS, Only sixty percent of men get annual physicals. More than fifty percent of
9 men say they do not talk about their health, and according to the National Institutes of Health,
10 more than sixty percent of American men are overweight or obese; and
11 WHEREAS, As of 2018, the leading causes of death for men were heart disease and
12 cancer. Annually, 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer making it the second overall
13 leading cause of death amongst men. In addition, mental health issues are common amongst
14 American men, with suicide ranking as the eighth leading cause of death, and the Centers for
15 Disease Control reports that males are more likely than females to die from COVID-19; and
16 WHEREAS, Many of these illnesses can be prevented or treated properly through annual
17 screenings, regular visits to a physician, and getting vaccinated for COVID-19. Men who do so
18 are better educated about their health and live longer and happier lives. Fathers who take care of
19 their health and choose to live healthier lifestyles serve as important role models for their
1 children; and
2 WHEREAS, While all of June is Men's Health Month, Friday, June 17, 2022, is "Wear
3 Blue Day" in which all organizations and individuals are encouraged to raise awareness and
4 much-needed funds to educate men about the importance of getting regular check-ups and
5 screenings to get information on health issues such as testicular and prostate cancer, as well as
6 cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, diabetes, skin cancer, and mental health well-being; now,
7 therefore be it
8 RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims June of
9 2022, to be "Men's Health Month" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further
10 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
11 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Director James McDonald, MD, MPH, Interim
12 Director, Rhode Island Department of Health.
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LC005543
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