A new plan to improve men's health
The Government has published its first-ever Men’s Health Strategy, setting out a major push to improve men’s physical and mental health and reduce inequalities.
The Government strategy sets out a plan for men’s health over the next 10 years.
Why this strategy exists
- The government is responding to the fact that many men in England live shorter lives and spend a significant part of their lives in poor health.
- On average, men live nearly 4 years less than women and spend over one-fifth of their lives in poor health.
- Health inequalities are marked: men in the most deprived areas may die more than 10 years earlier and have nearly 19 fewer healthy years than men in the least deprived areas.
- Other factors — such as socioeconomic disadvantage, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and circumstances like homelessness or contact with the criminal justice system — further shape poor health outcomes for particular groups of men.
Aims of the Men's Health Strategy
- Ensure health services engage men and boys and are responsive to their needs.
- Build structures that empower men and boys to take control of their own health and wellbeing.
- Create the conditions in which men and boys’ health and wellbeing can thrive.
Key commitments from the Government
Here are some key promises from the Government in their Men's Health Strategy.
- Community-based men’s health programmes: funding for community-centred men’s health initiatives aimed at reaching men least likely to engage with conventional health services (eg. those in deprived or underserved areas).
- Training and raising awareness among healthcare professionals: new training and resources for NHS and other health staff so they are better equipped to recognise and respond appropriately to men’s health needs.
- Workplace health pilots targeting male-dominated industries: programmes to support men’s health in workplaces.
- Expanded early detection and monitoring of male-specific conditions (e.g. prostate cancer): from 2027, men being monitored for prostate cancer will be able to order and complete PSA blood-test kits from the NHS App and do them at home, or book local blood tests.
- Mental health and suicide-prevention funding and support: funding for community-level suicide prevention projects especially targeting middle-aged men; also includes partnerships with community organisations and initiatives (for example with sports/football-related outreach) to tackle stigma and improve access.
- Pilot programme for brief interventions regarding alcohol and drug-linked cardiovascular disease: a small-scale trial aimed at reducing deaths from heart disease related to alcohol and cocaine use in men (particularly older men).
- More research into men’s health issues & building an evidence base.
- Targeted, inequalities-aware approach: commitment to focusing on men most at risk or disadvantaged (e.g. by deprivation, ethnicity, disability, social circumstances), and using a 'life-course' perspective: tailoring interventions to different life stages (boys, young men, middle-aged, older men).
