Two members of the Men and Boys Coalition have published a policy paper on the core principles of a Men’s Health Strategy for England.
The paper has been written by Mark Brooks OBE and Associate Professor Caroline Flurey (published below). It aims to push forward a more detailed discussion on what a strategy would consist of and deliver in seeking to tackle the continuing crisis in men’s health. It has been reviewed by Emeritus Professor of Men’s Health, Professor Alan White.
Men’s Health Strategy for England: Core Principles (pdf)
The aim of a Men’s Health Strategy would be “improved men’s health outcomes throughout their life course and a number of proposals in the policy paper include:
- A government minister, clinical director and ambassador with specific responsibility for men’s health;
- Broadening health system ‘opening times’ and increasing points of access;
- Embedding men’s health into health and social care training including at medical schools;
- Recruiting more men into health and social care employment roles;
- Ensuring society including communities and employers to better accept, empathise, acknowledge and encourage male help-seeking/vulnerability
- Tackling negative male-blaming tropes such as “toxic masculinity” and “men don’t talk.”
The crisis in men’s health that a strategy would seek to tackle can be seen by:
- One man in every five does not live until they are 65
- 88 men die prematurely every day from heart disease
- 33 men die every day from prostate cancer
- 17 men die every day from an alcohol-specific condition (more than double than women)
- 13 men die every day by suicide in the UK (three in every four) with a suicide rate increasing for the past three years (fifth highest this century). That is nearly 5,000 men every year
- Over ten men every month are killed in work-related accidents
- Men living in Birmingham, Ladywood are, on average, more than 3.5 times as likely to die prematurely than men living in Beckenham
Men’s health (which includes boys’ health) is now formally recognised as a distinct and specific part of health public policy, professional practice and public interest. It is recognised that both men’s health is in crisis and that gender-specific action is needed. This extends into social care.
There is a coalescence of opinion of the clear need for a Men’s Health Strategy. This is from within the political, professional practice and academic health community alongside the men’s health third sector.
The aim of a Men’s Health Strategy would be “improved men’s health outcomes throughout their life course”.
There has, however, been limited discussion on the actual shape, principles and deliverables in the context of a Men’s Health Strategy for England in achieving this aim.
This policy paper puts forward a broad Men’s Health Strategy based on five key pillars of delivery with an outline of key deliverables.
- Formal political and operational governance and accountability structures
- Improving accessibility, literacy and uptake
- Promoting men’s health research, professional practice and employment initiatives
- Changing and challenging societal gender norms
- Addressing social determinants and intersectionality
The paper makes no distinction between men’s mental and physical health, especially as they are so intertwined.
The proposals are broadly based on a range of policy and research papers/discussions within the men’s health and wellbeing sector over the past three years. They are aimed at creating at pushing forward a more detailed discussion on what a strategy would consist of and deliver in seeking to tackle the continuing crisis in men’s health.
Such a health strategy should, in principle, be also in place in the other three nations who have devolved responsibility for health.
For further information about this paper, please contact Mark Brooks via mark.brooks@marcommsformen.org.uk / 07834 452357
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This paper has been published on this site by the Men and Boys Coalition, however, its contents are the responsibility of the two authors and not the charity. It is therefore not a Men and Boys Coalition publication.
The Men and Boys Coalition fully endorses the campaign for a Men’s Health Strategy