Men's Health Initiative: A community-based participatory approach to men's health promotion

The Men's Health Initiative (MHI) is an organization based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area that aims to promote healthy behaviors through three primary approaches: informing men about health and wellness, identifying risks unique to men, and implementing behavioral interventions. MHI sets as its primary goals: (a) to reduce the health disparity between the sexes and (b) to promote awareness and action among males.

MHI roots its efforts in research and evidence-based medicine. MHI translates said research into a comprehensive community-based participatory framework that conducts workshops, public lectures, roundtable discussions, and interactive activities for all ages, ranging from young teens to senior citizens, on testicular cancer and testicular self-examination, prostate cancer and screenings, colorectal cancer and screenings, and sexuality and masculinity, including fatherhood and expectations of a man in society. MHI does not offer screening services but provides the information and tools for men to become aware of health risks and to have the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions regarding their health and wellbeing.

MHI develops and distributes all original promotional information, including the newsletter MASCULUS, lectures, and discussions. The organization developed community, regional, intrastate, and interstate collaborations.

MHI offers its trials and successes to other similar service organizations aiming to address the health disparities experienced by men.