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England Launches First National Strategy to Improve Men’s Health
The UK government has launched England’s first dedicated Men’s Health Strategy, aiming to address the unique physical and mental health challenges that men face.
Men tend to have higher rates of risky behaviors such as smoking, excessive drinking, drug use, and gambling, and they are less likely to seek medical help. These factors contribute to poorer health outcomes, with suicide being a particularly serious concern, especially among men under 50.
The strategy includes targeted investments in mental health and suicide prevention. Over the next three years, £3.6 million will fund projects aimed at middle-aged men in high-risk or deprived areas. Partnerships with initiatives such as the Premier League’s Together Against Suicide will leverage football to engage men and reduce stigma. Schools will also see expanded mental health support, ensuring nearly an additional 900,000 pupils have access to mental health teams by 2026.
Healthcare services are being modernized to better reach men. Prostate cancer monitoring may soon include home PSA testing and appointments via the NHS App, pending clinical approval. Community-based programs will receive £3 million to target men who are less likely to access traditional healthcare. Training for healthcare professionals will improve awareness of men’s health issues, while workplace pilots and support for former miners will help men in male-dominated industries and high-risk occupations. Funding for research will focus on leading causes of male mortality, including cardiovascular disease and cancers, and trials will explore interventions to reduce deaths related to substance use.
A key goal of the strategy is to reduce health inequalities, particularly the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions. Programs will tackle social isolation, loneliness, and harmful social norms by offering health support in places men already frequent. Oversight will be provided by a stakeholder group including men with lived experience, and progress will be monitored through annual reports.
The strategy has been welcomed by health organizations such as Movember, the Samaritans, and Prostate Cancer UK, who view it as a historic step forward. It emphasizes a holistic approach, combining medical, social, and cultural measures to encourage men to seek help and adopt healthier lifestyles. Framed as a long-term, 10-year plan, the strategy is intended to be iterative, with ongoing evaluation and adjustments as lessons are learned.