Suicide prevention, alcohol abuse and problem gambling will be the focus of a new government strategy for men’s health.
The Department of Health will publish its proposals later to mark International Men’s Day, with a warning that men are less likely than women to seek help and can suffer in silence.
They are also more likely to smoke, drink, gamble and use drugs.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said men’s health had long been “overlooked”, and the new strategy – which includes teaming up with the Premier League – would be a “turning point”.
“There has been a reluctance to accept that men suffer specific inequalities and hardships,” he added.
“The fact is life can be really difficult for men in today’s society.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Pic: PA
Suicide prevention
The government has promised £3.6m over the next three years to suicide prevention projects for middle-aged men in local communities where they are most at risk of taking their own lives.
Suicide is one of the biggest killers of men under 50 and three-quarters of all suicides are in men.
The Premier League’s Together Against Suicide initiative, which it runs with the Samaritans to offer support for men on match days, will also be backed by a new government partnership.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said football “has the power to break down stigma and connect fans with support that can make a real difference”.
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Drink and drugs
The government has pledged £200,000 to a trial looking at how men can be warned against taking cocaine while drinking, which carries an 18 to 25-fold increase in risk of immediate death over cocaine alone.
The number of deaths involving cocaine in England is on the rise. There were 1,118 in 2023, up from 857 in 2022 and nearly 10 times higher than in 2011, when there were 112.
Gambling
Money is also being promised for a new voluntary sector grant to help prevent people at risk of gambling addition from becoming hooked, with men aged 25 to 34 among those most at risk.
The Department of Health said there would also be national and local campaigns to highlight the problem.
‘A historic day for men’s health’
Other measures set to be outlined today include:
🞗 Provision of at-home blood test kits for men with prostate cancer
🞗 New learning resources for NHS staff about men’s health
🞗 £3m for community-based men’s health schemes
🞗 Support for former miners suffering from conditions like asthma
🞗 Workplace pilots with EDF to support men in male-dominated industries
The strategy’s announcement also coincides with Movember – the annual campaign encouraging people to grow a moustache and raise money for men’s health initiatives.
Michelle Terry, chief executive officer of the charity, said: “Today marks a historic day for men’s health in the UK.
“We now need rapid progress and delivery of the action plan to ensure this creates real, measurable change.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. Alternatively, you can call Mind’s support line on 0300 102 1234, or NHS on 111.
