September 30, 2015

Office of men’s health established to SUPPORT BETTER health outcomes

Contact:Tiffani McDaniel, Public Information Officer
Media Desk: 407-665-3374 and 321-200-7805

Sanford, Fla.–The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County (DOH-Seminole) recently launched an Office of Men’s Health. The Office of Men’s Health was developed to educate and support better health outcomes for all men and boys age 12 and older in Seminole County, Florida.

Heart disease, hypertension, prostate cancer, substance abuse, suicide, and incarceration are priority areas of focus for the Office of Men’s Health. An advisory board was established with corporate and community stakeholders to provide professional insight.

Advisory board members include:

Willie Brown, DOH-Seminole - STD Prevention

Michael Coe, Philanthropist and Motivational Speaker

Dr. Shantel Hebert-Magee, Florida Hospital

Jerry Henkins, DOH-Seminole – Environmental Health

John Hillenmeyer, Dr. P. Phillips Foundation

Lisa Holder, City of Sanford

Luke Holliday, Intern

Dr. Swannie Jett, DOH-Seminole – Health Officer

Lindsay Kincaide, GLBT Community Center of Central Florida

El Cabrel Lee, DOH-Seminole – Board Facilitator  

J. Li, Northland Church

Josephine Mercado, J.D., Hispanic Health Initiative

In 2014, nineteen percent of all deaths in Seminole County males were attributed to prostate cancer. According to Florida CHARTS, the Seminole County suicide mortality rate is currently twenty-one percent in males and five percent in women. White men have higher rates of suicide than any other ethnic group in Seminole County.

“Suicide is a serious public health problem,” said Dr. Swannie Jett, Health Officer for DOH-Seminole. “Effective prevention strategies are needed to promote awareness and encourage a commitment to social change.”

Need help? Know someone who does? Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or use the online Lifeline Crisis Chat. You’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor in your area. Both methods are free and confidential. For more information visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

Visit seminolecohealth.com for more information. The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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