June is Men’s Health Month. This annual awareness campaign is part of an ongoing international effort to educate men, boys and their families about receiving regular disease prevention screenings and living healthier lifestyles.
Nationwide, life expectancy for men averages five years less than that of women, with men experiencing higher rates of health problems such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart disease and premature mortality. Regular preventive care and health screenings may help prevent, identify and address some of these issues and improve quality of life and longevity. In addition, unrecognized and undiagnosed depression and mental stress affect many men and boys, with suicide and substance abuse on the rise. Men’s Health Month also aims to remove the stigma of being open and honest about addressing the mental and emotional challenges that men experience.
There are a variety of resources and opportunities available to employees through the My Wellness program and the university as a whole, including:
Preventive care
- For those on a Marquette medical insurance plan, in-network preventive care services are covered at 100%.
- A Primary Care Provider (PCP) visit earns 200 My Wellness points (half of the maximum amount), which can lead to monetary contributions to an HSA or FSA if on a Marquette medical insurance plan.
- Age/gender appropriate screenings can earn an additional 50 My Wellness points. More information on what qualifies as an appropriate screening can be found in the complete list of activities and descriptions section of the My Wellness program informational page.
Free health coaching
- A variety of free, confidential, 1:1 coaching offerings are available through Marquee Health, the university’s employee wellness partner. Coaching offerings include stress management, heart health, diabetes education and financial fitness, just to name a few. More information can be found on the Health Coaching page.
- Employees and their spouses can sign up for health coaching by either calling 800-882-2109, emailing coaching@marqueehealth.com, or logging in to the My Wellness portal and clicking “Coaching.”
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- LifeMatters, Marquette’s EAP, offers up to six free sessions with a master’s level-counselor with whom employees can talk about emotional, stress-related, relationship or family concerns in person or over the phone. The EAP can also provide assistance with substance abuse, finances and certain legal matters.
- LifeMatters can be reached by calling 1-800-634-6433, texting “Hello” to 61295, or visiting mylifematters.com and using the password “MU1”.
On-campus services
- Marquette employees have the benefit of having several specialized health-related clinics on-campus, many of which offer low-cost services to Marquette employees and/or those on a Marquette insurance plan. These services include audiology, dental and physical therapy.
Free financial planning
- Recognizing that financial stress can directly lead to emotional and physical stress, the university is now offering a new free financial planning benefit through Francis LLC. Employees can meet with a financial planner in person or virtually at no cost. More information can be found on the My Financial Health page.
- To connect with a financial planner, visit francisway.com/marquette and click on “Individual Financial Planning”, download Francis LLC’s free mobile app, or call 866-232-6457.
Spiritual wellness opportunities
- The Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality provides faculty and staff with various spiritual wellness opportunities. One of these is the Men’s Spirituality Forum, which is offered monthly during the academic year, starting in September. This event provides an opportunity to connect with colleagues over lunch and to reflect on different spiritual topics. All faiths are welcome.
