Men's health strategy addresses suicide and substance misuse

The Government has launched its first men’s health strategy, which sets out plans to address suicide and substance misuse alongside other health risks facing men in England.

Published to coincide with International Men’s Day, the strategy has outlined measures to improve men’s physical and mental health and reduce health inequalities.

This includes pledges to invest £3.6m over three years for suicide prevention projects focused on middle-aged men in high-risk areas, training for healthcare professionals and workplace health pilots.

The strategy also commits to:

- £3m for community-based men’s health programmes targeting groups least likely to engage with traditional services,
- A £200,000 trial of brief interventions to address rising alcohol- and cocaine-related cardiovascular deaths, particularly among older men,
- Enhanced support for former miners through the Respiratory Pathways Transformation Fund,
- Research funding to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of leading causes of poor health in men.

It aims to align men’s health with the NHS’s wider reform agenda announced in the 10 year plan, moving from sickness to prevention and from hospital to community – shifts that pharmacy is central to. Neighbourhood health centres, staffed by pharmacists alongside other healthcare professionals, will be established in every community 'ensure men can access care regardless of their job or working hours', the strategy said.

Recent UK Health Service Agency (UKHSA) Pharmacy First statistics showed that significantly more women are using the Pharmacy First service than men.

Health secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘For too long, men’s health has been overlooked. There has been a reluctance to accept that men suffer specific inequalities and hardships. The fact is that life can be really difficult for men in today’s society. Men are dying nearly four years earlier than women, and suicide remains one of the leading causes of death for men under 50.

‘This strategy marks a turning point – the first time we’re taking comprehensive, coordinated action to address the health challenges facing men and boys.’

He added: ‘We know men are less likely to come forward for healthcare. From partnering with the premier league to rolling out health support in the workplace – we’re meeting men where they are and giving them the support they need to live longer, healthier lives.’

Greg Fell, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, said: ‘This new strategy recognises that there is no one solution and sets out sensible and achievable goals that everyone involved in improving men’s health and wellbeing can work towards.’

He added that he was ‘pleased’ this strategy emphasises preventing avoidable illnesses and diseases.

‘At a local level, Directors of Public Health already fund a variety of projects tackling these issues – many of which are organised by the voluntary sector. For this strategy to be truly effective, the Government must build on the positive changes are already being made, not just in the short term, but for generations of boys and men to come.’

The Government added that a stakeholder group would oversee the implementation of the strategy, and a one year report would be published to ‘ensure accountability’.

Earlier this year, The Pharmacist looked at how pharmacies can encourage more engagement with men.

A version of this story was first published on our sister title Healthcare Leader.