2023 -- S 1101
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LC003098
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING JUNE OF 2023, TO BE "MEN'S HEALTH MONTH" IN THE STATE OF
RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Senator Dominick J. Ruggerio
Date Introduced: June 07, 2023
Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
WHEREAS, According to Harvard Health, as of 2022, men in the United States had a life 1
expectancy of 73.2 years, approximately 5.9 years less than women. Native American and 2
African-American males have even lower life expectancies. One of the reasons for this disparity 3
is the fact that men are often reluctant to go to the doctor, with studies showing that women go to 4
the doctor twice as often as men. Even when ill, many men will avoid seeing a doctor, with sixty-5
five percent saying they avoid going to the doctor as long as possible; and 6
WHEREAS, Sixty percent of men do not get annual physicals and according to the 7
National Institutes of Health, and 34.1 percent of American men are overweight or obese; and 8
WHEREAS, As of 2018, the leading causes of death for men were heart disease and 9
cancer. In 2023, an estimated 288,300 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer making it the 10
second overall leading cause of death amongst men. In addition, mental health issues are common 11
amongst American men, with suicide ranking as the eighth leading cause of death, and the 12
Centers for Disease Control reports that males are more likely than females to die from COVID-13
19; and 14
WHEREAS, Many of these illnesses can be prevented or treated properly through annual 15
screenings, regular visits to a physician, and getting vaccinated for COVID-19. Men who do so 16
are better educated about their health and live longer and happier lives. Fathers who take care of 17
their health and choose to live healthier lifestyles serve as important role models for their 18
children; and 19
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WHEREAS, While all of June is Men's Health Month, Friday, June 16, 2023, is "Wear 1
Blue Day" in which all organizations and individuals are encouraged to raise awareness and 2
much-needed funds to educate men about the importance of getting regular check-ups and 3
screenings to get information on health issues such as testicular and prostate cancer, as well as 4
cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, diabetes, skin cancer, and mental health well-being; now, 5
therefore be it 6
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims June of 7
2023, to be "Men's Health Month" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further 8
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 9
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Director Utpala Bandy, MD, MPH, Interim 10
Director, Rhode Island Department of Health. 11
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LC003098
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