By Gabriella Payne
Incontinence is a topic that’s shrouded in embarrassment and not often brought up in conversation – but the team at the Continence Foundation of Australia are working hard to change that and have launched a new campaign to get people, especially men, talking about this common health issue.
To mark the beginning of World Continence Week on Monday 21 June and kick start these important conversations, the foundation were excited to launch their new campaign, ‘BINS4Blokes’.
‘BINS4Blokes’ is a nationwide advocacy and awareness initiative that is pushing to see incontinence product disposal bins installed in male public toilet facilities – something that could help change the lives of many men around Australia according to the foundation’s CEO, Rowan Cockerell.
Ms Cockerell explained that 1 in 10 Australian males, or 1.34 million boys and men, were currently living with either urinary or faecal incontinence and due to the lack of disposal bins in male public toilets across the country, many of these men often limited their activities in public due to fear of embarrassment.
“There is so much stigma associated with incontinence and for many people living with it, it can lead them to withdraw from public and social activities resulting in depression and a reduced quality of life,” Ms Cockerell said.
“I think we take for granted having bins made available in female toilets, and no one has actually taken notice that men sometimes require these kinds of products too.
With 1 in 10 Australian males experiencing incontinence, our BINS4Blokes initiative aims to help them feel more supported in the community and be able to confidently participate in social situations outside of the home,” she said.
A study of Australian men with urinary incontinence found that 57 percent intentionally kept accidents secret from those close to them, and 50 percent avoided situations where they could not easily access a toilet.
However, Ms Cockerell said that the Continence Foundation of Australia hoped that this campaign would help normalise the conversation around incontinence, provide support to those experiencing the condition and let men know that there was help out there, and they weren’t alone.
“Sometimes people think they’re on their own, but we want them to know that they’re not,” Ms Cockerell said.
“There is help available. Incontinence is not part of growing old, it’s not part of ageing.
We’re hoping the BINS4Blokes campaign will help increase awareness and advocate on behalf of boys and men who require additional support in the community,” she said.
“We want to break down that stigma.”
The Foundation is encouraging everyone in the community, from local governments and big corporations to community clubs and individuals, to open up conversations around this issue and champion the BINS4Blokes initiative in their community.
To pledge your support and nominate where you would like to see a BINS4Blokes bin installed, head to www.bins4blokes.org.au or to learn more about incontinence and ways to get help, call the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66.
