The government has launched a call for evidence to help inform its men’s health strategy, which was announced last year.
The 12-week call for evidence will seek views from health professionals as well as academics, employers and the public, to consider how to prevent and tackle the biggest issues facing men.
It will feed into the government’s men’s health strategy, which is due to be published later this year.
The call for evidence will ask questions around what should be included in the strategy, health literacy, education and training, as well as conditions affecting men, health and work and men’s engagement and experience of healthcare services.
Currently men die on average four years earlier than women, and they are disproportionately affected by health conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Around three in four people who died by suicide in 2023 were men, with suicide the biggest cause of death in men under the age of 50.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘Every day, men across England are dying early from preventable causes. Men are hit harder by a range of conditions, while tragically suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50.
‘Our Plan for Change means we will tackle these issues head on through a men’s health strategy, and today’s call for evidence is the crucial next step in understanding what works, what doesn’t, and how we can design services men will actually use. I urge people to come forward to share their views.’
Chief executive of the Samaritans, Julie Bentley, said: ‘Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 so it’s critical that suicide prevention is front and centre of this strategy. With men making up 75 percent of all suicides, this strategy is a real opportunity to prevent thousands of deaths.
‘Recognising what works for different groups of men, focusing on key risk factors and providing evidenced based support will be crucial and we’d encourage everyone to submit evidence to this important consultation. We look forward to working with Government on meaningful ways to cut suicide rates and save lives.’
It comes after Mr Streeting said earlier this month that he would like to see a national prostate cancer screening programme in place for men at high risk of the disease.
The call for evidence will run until 17 July 2025.
