This article explores some of the statistics surrounding men’s physical and mental health, inclulding why some men may be reluctant to ask for help. It will also explore steps employers can take to support their male employees.
- Men’s health and statistics
- Why there is a lack of men reaching out for help?
- The steps employers can take to support men’s health
- The importance of self-care for managers
According to the Men’s Health Forum, men are more likely to die at a younger age and experience chronic diseases, mental health issues, and work-related issues than women. They are also less likely to reach out and seek help, delaying diagnosis and treatment, which could inevitably lead to more serious outcomes.
Men’s health and statistics
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in 2018-2020, men had a lower life expectancy at birth in the UK compared with females; for males it was 79 years compared to 82 years for females.
In the UK, heart disease and cancer rates are also higher in males compared with females:
- One in eight men and one in 14 women die from coronary heart disease. (British Heart Foundation)
- In males, there are around 193,000 new cancer cases every year, compared with 182,000 new cancer cases in women. (Cancer Research UK)
Men are also more likely to experience chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity in their lifetimes. According to Public Health England, type 2 diabetes is 26% higher in men than in women, and men have a higher chance of complications, such as blindness and amputations. On top of this, The Health Survey for England found a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in men, with more than 68.6% above the normal range – compared to 59% in women.
Men’s mental health issues are also a significant concern. Figures show that only 36% of referrals into NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression (previously known as ‘IAPT’) are men. According to the Mental Health Foundation, men are less likely to recognise or report symptoms of mental health problems, and more likely to adopt unhealthy ways of dealing with them, such as smoking, drinking or using drugs.
Suicide rates are also higher among men; in England and Wales suicide is three times more common among men, than among women. In 2019, males aged 45 to 49 years had the highest age-specific suicide rate (25.5 deaths per 100,000 males). Men are also more likely to die by suicide than women. According to research by Samaritans, one of the reasons for this may be down to men choosing more lethal methods of suicide than women.
Why is there a lack of men reaching out for help?
One of the reasons men have poorer health outcomes than women is thought to be down to men being less likely to seek out help when they need it. This may be down to some of the reasons explored below.
- Socially constructed attitudes and expectations. Men may feel a need to conform to traditional stereotypes of masculinity, and feel pressure to be stoic, strong, and independent. This may mean they feel they are not able to show their emotions and talk about their worries. They may also be unwilling to ask for help because they see it as a sign of weakness.
- Lack of awareness. Men may lack access to information that could prompt them to seek medical treatment when needed. They may be unaware of where to turn for particular health issues, such as depression, or how to reduce their risk of developing chronic disease.
- Practical barriers. Economic, financial or time barriers might prevent men from getting help. According to a report by Mind which looked at men and mental health, men said “services available to them were not male-friendly or tailored to their needs, and that practical issues such as opening times and the location of services were a barrier to getting help”.
Steps employers can take to support men’s health
Fortunately, there are things employers can do to help raise awareness and improve access to help.
Signpost to internal services
Employers can ensure they are continually signposting staff to the different supportive services they have in place. For example, this may include:
- Employee assistance programmes (EAPs) – These are 24/7 helplines offering employees a confidential way to access support for a range of issues when they need it.
- Occupational health services – Occupational health can provide various tools and proactive measures to help you take a preventative approach to employee health and wellbeing. This can include health screening, assessments, immunisations, online wellbeing platforms and referrals for musculoskeletal and mental health issues.
- Digital tools such as websites and apps – Investing in digital tools can empower employees to monitor and improve their health own health. Self-help content, online courses, meditation apps, and goal setting can support employees to put healthy habits and lifestyle changes in place.
- Workshops and eLearning – If you have short courses or modules to help support the health and wellbeing of your staff, these are also a useful resource to signpost to. For example, you may have courses on managing stress and improving physical fitness.
- Line managers – Reminding staff that they can reach out to their manager for support is another key way to help signpost staff into available services. Consider sharing guidance with managers that covers what services to signpost staff to.
- Wellbeing calendar – Aligning employee wellbeing content to a calendar is a great way to tie activity to key campaigns in the year led by charities and organisations. This could include Men’s Health Week in June, Mental Health Awareness Week in May and Movember in October. It’s also an opportunity to educate men on how to check for symptoms of common conditions, such as prostate cancer.
Encourage open conversations around health issues
Another strategy is to encourage open conversation around men’s health issues to help reduce stigma and encourage others to open up and reach out for help. Sharing stories and testimonials from male employees can be an excellent way to encourage other men to come forward. Another idea is to invite external speakers in to talk about different topics around men’s health.
Leverage the different platforms available, such as the staff intranet, social media, company newsletters and team meetings to help spread the message and embed open conversation into your company culture.
Encourage eligible staff to take up NHS health checks and screenings
Below are some of the health checks and screenings offered to men in England.
- The NHS Health Check is a check-up for adults aged 40-74 who do not have any pre-existing conditions. It’s designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or dementia.
- Those aged 60 to 74 are offered a bowel cancer screening home test kit every 2 years.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is offered to men during the screening year (1 April to 31 March) that they turn 65 to detect abdominal aortic aneurysms (a dangerous swelling in the aorta).
Find out more about screening programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Encourage staff to make an appointment with their GP if they do notice changes in their body or are worried about their health.
Research into men, mental health and the workplace
Andrew Kinder, Professional Head of Mental Health Services at Optima Health, has co-authored a book with Dr. Shaun Davis, Global Director of Safety, Health, Wellbeing and Sustainability at Royal Mail Group called Positive Male Mind: Overcoming Mental Health Problems (published by Lid Publishing). It covers insight into men’s mental health, and looks at it in the context of the workplace – such as how to talk to a colleague with a mental health issue.
The importance of self-care for managers
Managers have a dual responsibility in the workplace. They need to take care of their own health, as well as look out for their team members.
Managers who neglect their own physical and mental wellbeing put themselves at risk of becoming unwell themselves, impacting their ability to look after others. However, managers who prioritise self-care set a good example for their team to follow.
There are numerous ways for managers to practice self-care, including:
- Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy balanced diet, exercising regularly, and making time for relaxation.
- Maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
- Engaging in activities such as hobbies and interests.
- Socialising and engaging with others, whether friends, family or colleagues.
- Asking for help when they need it, whether at work, with friends or reaching out to their GP about a health issue.
- Developing healthy coping skills to manage challenges, such as big life changes and pressure at work.
Summary
Employers can play an important role in addressing men’s health in the workplace. From raising awareness initiatives to investing in health screening programmes, there are plenty of preventative measures that can be considered and put in place. Encouraging a working culture where employees feel they can talk about mental health and other concerns is also key to help break down any stigma. It’s also important to highlight the importance of self-care for managers, so that they don’t neglect their own wellbeing, putting them in a stronger position to support others.
This information was published November 2023.
