Men die, on average, four years earlier than women. They also account for three out of four deaths by suicide. These issues impacting men’s health are why the government has announced its first-ever men’s health strategy.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the strategy will look at how to prevent and tackle the biggest issues costing men’s lives. That includes heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for men in England, and mental health issues.
Over the next few months, the government will ask men to share evidence on their healthcare issues and invite organisations to recommend ways to improve men’s health.
‘We’re seeing mental ill health on the rise and the shocking fact that suicide is the biggest killer for men under the age of 50,’ says Streeting. ‘Preventable killers like heart disease and prostate cancer are being caught far too late.’
Prostate cancer screening options are already being investigated by The UK National Screening Committee to see if there is a way to prevent the disease in people with a known high risk.
The men’s health strategy joins the women’s health strategy – which was published in 2022 to help reduce sexism in healthcare, underrepresentation in clinical trials and the gender pain gap, while better supporting women through life stages including fertility and menopause. They’re both seen as key parts of the government’s 10-Year Health Plan to fix the NHS.
‘Just as we are determined to end the injustices women face in healthcare, we won’t shy away from the need to focus on men’s health too. This government will publish a men’s health strategy to tackle these problems head-on,’ says Streeting. ‘Nothing frustrates me more than when men’s health and women’s health are somehow pitted in opposition to each other.’
Class inequalities are investigated in both strategies, too. Men and women living in the most deprived areas in England live almost 10 years less than those in the least deprived.
The strategy will be unveiled next year, with the call for evidence to be launched soon. If you have stories to tell about your health – which most men will – make sure you add your voice to the evidence.
In the meantime, you can share thoughts on how to build a better healthcare system on the Change NHS online portal.
