A government-backed men’s health strategy will be implemented for the first time in England, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed. The announcement follows years of campaigning by groups such as the Men’s Health Forum and the Movember charity.
What issues will the men’s health strategy address?
The strategy will seek to address the most frequent issues that affect men, including prostate cancer, heart disease, strokes, testicular cancer, and also mental health. For example, cases of prostate cancer have risen by more than a quarter to 54,732 since 2022, while more cancers as a whole are diagnosed among men than women (180,877 Vs. 165,340).
Although some of these rises can be explained by greater awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and thus more people seeking help, nonetheless men die in greater numbers of preventable and treatable diseases than women. They also have shorter average life expectancies and are far more likely to die by suicide than women.
The deepening men’s mental health crisis
Men’s mental health is an increasing area of concern. Despite efforts to dismantle outdated social attitudes to masculinity, such as the need to always appear self-reliant and strong, many men find it difficult to seek help and support when they need to. This can increase the risk of unhealthy coping mechanisms and self-harm.
Hopefully, the renewed efforts to normalise seeking support and visiting the GP or using private counselling services will empower more men to reach out. Men visit the doctor less often than women, and tend to present late with symptoms, reducing their chances of timely and effective treatment.
Why men shouldn’t brush ED under the carpet
Men who ignore issues that they may feel uncomfortable discussing, such as erectile dysfunction (ED), are not only enduring a worse quality of life, but may have other serious undiagnosed conditions. This is because ED can be a warning sign that all is not right with the cardiovascular system, potentially suggesting that heart disease is present.
ED can also be a sign of undiagnosed high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or depression. If any of these conditions are ruled out, then the first line of ED treatment is usually an oral medication such as Viagra, which is cheap to buy online as sildenafil.
Reaction to the announcement of a men’s health strategy
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “It can be hard to be a young man in today’s society, particularly for boys from backgrounds like mine.”
“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. Preventable killers like heart disease and prostate cancer are being caught far too late.”
He added: “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.”
Michelle Terry, CEO of Movember, said: “[The announcement] is a significant step forward in transforming the face of men’s health. We are delighted that the UK government has committed to a men’s health strategy.”
“When we improve men’s health, we know that the benefits can ripple through families, communities, societies and the economy. This will transform the lives of men, but also their wives, mothers, sisters, partners, mates, neighbours, children, teachers and doctors.”
“We stand ready to work with other leaders in men’s health and the Secretary of State to make the men’s health strategy a reality that brings real change to lives up and down the country.”
What will the next steps be?
The committee will launch a call for evidence to seek a range of views on the current state of men’s healthcare, including its strengths and weaknesses. It will seek to identify the work that needs to be done and the obstacles that need to be overcome in order to bring men’s health outcomes in parity with women’s.
This is not to deny the many challenges that women face when it comes to healthcare but to support men in a way that will benefit society as a whole, including their female counterparts, family, work colleagues and partners.
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