What we know about the UK’s first ‘men’s health strategy’

Kate Ng
·Trending Lifestyle Reporter
Updated ·4-min read
Mature male patient sitting on exam table in discussion with doctor
Men are at higher risk of certain health conditions like cardiovascular disease. (Getty Images)

The British government has announced plans for the UK’s first ever 'men’s health strategy' that is aimed at addressing health issues faced by men of all ages.

The plan is a key part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan that is committed to "fixing the NHS". According to the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), it aims to close the life expectancy gap between men and women.

The most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that, from 2021 to 2023, life expectancy at birth for men was 79 years, compared to 83 years for women in England and Wales.

DHSC has put out a call for evidence on the strategy in order to seek views on what is working and what more needs to be done to tackle the issue.

Here’s everything we know about the new men’s health strategy:

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (R) and Health Secretary Wes Streeting (L) speak with members of staff as they visit St. George's Hospital, on October 28, 2024 in London, England. Reeves and Streeting are visiting St. George's Hospital ahead of the Autumn budget on Wednesday. The Budget will be the first delivered by Reeves and the new Labour government. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Health secretary Wes Streeting, pictured here with chancellor Rachel Reeves, spoke of the importance of tackling health issues faced by men in the UK. (Getty Images)

The government wants to address, prevent and tackle the biggest health problems affecting men of all ages.

These include cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer and testicular cancer, as well as mental health and suicide prevention.

In a statement, Streeting highlighted the rise in poor mental health among British men as a key issue, as well as the worrying statistics around suicide.

Speaking at the Men’s Health Summit, held in partnership with Movember, 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.

"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."

Could this be a heart attack
Heart disease is the biggest killer of men in the UK. (Getty Images)

Some of the most serious health issues that impact men more than women include:

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in England, with figures showing significantly more men die from cardiovascular disease compared to women.

DHSC states that on average, men die nearly four years earlier than women and are disproportionately affected by health conditions like cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

It’s the most common cancer among men in the UK, with around 55,100 new cases diagnosed each year. DHSC said the UK National Screening Committee is considering the efficacy of current prostate cancer screening programmes, including targeted approaches for those at higher risk such as people with family history.

It comes after the NHS said it would review its advice on testing for prostate cancer following Sir Chris Hoy’s call for younger men to be checked earlier.

A depressed mature male sits on his bed. He clasps his hand behind his head
Social media is worsening men's mental health, Wes Streeting said. (Getty Images)

Men, especially young men, are at risk of worsening mental health as a result of social media, Streeting told the Men’s Health Summit at Arsenal Football Club's Emirates Stadium.

As reported by The Times, he said: "I think lots of the pressures of social media in particular and a lot of the issues we’ve talked about for some time, actually, in terms of young women’s health, in terms of their self-esteem, positive body image and what it means to be a success or failure.

"There are lots of read-across to young men now in terms of body image and what it means to be a good bloke in today’s society. I think all of that is piling on young men to the extent that suicide is now the number one killer of men under the age of 35, which I think is a sobering reflection."

Data from the Mental Health Foundation shows that three times as many men as women die by suicide, with men aged 40 to 49 having the highest suicide rates in the UK.

It also shows that men are much less likely to access mental health help than women, with only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies being made for male patients.

DHSC said the strategy will be unveiled in 2025, but did not give any specific date. The call for evidence "will be launched in due course".

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