New Man Up Monday campaign doubles STD testing of young men in Virginia trial by Planned Parenthood

- Award-winning campaign goes national at public health conference -

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On October 28th, over 13,000 people will gather in San Francisco for the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA) focused on "Prevention and Wellness across the Life Span."  The Monday Campaigns (TMC), a nonprofit initiative backed by leading public health schools, will roll out its award-winning "Man Up Monday" campaign, which uses provocative images like flaming boxer shorts to encourage sexually active men to "man up" and get tested.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121022/DC96939 )

The campaign grew out of a collaboration between TMC, the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and the Harlem Health Promotion Center.  It is directed at making men more aware of such issues as condom use and getting regular check-ups for HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

When Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia (PPSEV) conducted a test pilot of Man Up Monday in conjunction with a half-price testing offer for those who called on Monday to schedule an appointment, PPSEV saw a 200% increase in testing over the previous year.

"The Monday call to action once again proves its power to get people to listen up and do something good for their health," said Sid Lerner, founder and chairman of The Monday Campaigns (TMC), the nonprofit organization behind Man Up Monday and the ever-growing Meatless Monday.  This movement, began in 2003 by Lerner with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, urges people to cut out meat one day a week for the good of their health and the health of the planet.

Lerner explained, "Why Monday? Johns Hopkins and our organization's research show that people view Monday as a day for a fresh start.  They're more likely to diet, exercise, quit smoking and schedule doctor's appointments.  They're looking for help in setting and carrying out their healthy intentions for the week."

The edgy, eye-catching Man Up Monday promotional campaign will receive the award for APHA's Public Health Education and Health Promotion Materials Contest in the print materials category.  Mark Driscoll, TMC creative director, said, "The flaming boxer visual is an amusing yet visceral visual that reminds men to get checked for STDs."

"The APHA conference is the ideal national launching pad for Man Up Monday," said Morgan Johnson, MPH, TMC's program development & research director.  "We're offering this free campaign to aid public health professionals working to promote health among young men.  This population tends to ignore health problems until they become acute.  Man Up Monday is a great way to remind them to take stock of their health and make changes as needed to maintain a healthful lifestyle."

Estimates suggest that even though young people aged 15–24 years represent only 25% of the sexually experienced population, they acquire nearly half of all new STDs.

For the national roll-out, TMC will continue to work with Planned Parenthood, schools and other organizations to increase awareness and usage of the Man Up Monday concept, clever posters, billboard ads, and web videos.

TMC invites health organizations to join in creating a Man Up Monday movement.  Information is available at: www.manupmonday.org

The Monday Campaigns is a non-profit public health initiative in association with Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairsat Syracuse. TMC's goal is to help end preventable chronic diseases by offering a weekly prompt that can support people in starting and sustaining healthy behaviors.

SOURCE The Monday Campaigns