Author: Naeem, The Relationships Service Counsellor
November means that it’s Movember – but to copy a phrase from next month – men’s health isn’t just for November.
Men’s health is a very large label covering a multitude of areas. While it’s a useful hook to hang things off – men’s health means more than growing facial hair to raise awareness. I’m not belittling the campaign – raising awareness is important. What’s just as important is for men to take an active role in our own health and wellbeing.
Earlier this year, the government launched a ‘call for evidence’ on men’s health; described as the first ever men’s health strategy to tackle life expectancy gap. The statistics are shocking:
- Men are disproportionately affected by several health conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Around 3 in 4 people who died by suicide in 2023 were men. Suicide is the biggest cause of death in men under the age of 50.
- Poverty also impacts men’s health – those in the most deprived areas of England are expected to live almost 10 years less than those in the least deprived areas.
Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women: only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men. Nearly three-quarters of adults who go missing are men and 87% of rough sleepers are men.
Sources:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/men-women-statistics
I could go on. It’s not great news.
Being male is not the only factor – factors such as the work we do can affect our health. People on zero hours contracts may find it difficult to get a GP appointments If you are a shift worker it may be difficult getting an appointment with a GP – in addition things such as not having a routine or regular sleep can also have a negative impact on the body. Research suggests that there is a link between lower health outcomes and systemic discrimination (KINGS FUND p15) – in addition to the impact of cultural stigma and societal norms.
Deprivation plays a part in determining life expectancy. Men are less likely to consult their GP than women – and the gap is wider in deprived areas.
(Sources: Inequalities In Men’s Health: Why Are They Not Being Addressed? | The King’s Fund & https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/mens-health-strategy-for-england-call-for-evidence/mens-health-strategy-for-england-call-for-evidence)
There are also variations that intersect with ethnicity. Black and South Asian groups as a whole experience higher levels of cardiovascular disease. (Ethnic-Health-Inequalities-Kings-Fund-Report.pdf) The risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer is two-to-three times higher among Black British men than among white British men; with Black British men are twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as white British men.
(Source https://www.nature.com/articles/s41585-024-00948-x)
Other research points to gay and bisexual men experiencing higher rates of mood disorders, anxiety and other mental health conditions compared with their heterosexual counterparts.
(source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10214070/#section18-15579883231176646)
Where does this leave us?
Traditionally (and stereotypically) men have be characterised by having a stiff upper lip – don’t complain, keep calm and carry on. We can shame others when we perceive their behaviour as being wrong – we tell boys not to cry – don’t be a girl (as if that’s the worst thing in the world) or man up.
Campaigns like Movember do a great job in raising awareness and building a case for a greater focus on men’s health. As a counsellor at The Relationship Service, I’ve noticed that some men tend to come at the prompting of partners telling them that they ‘have a problem’. There also is a need for men to proactively take more responsibility for their health – we owe it to ourselves.
I’m not suggesting that therapy is a solution for everything – it’s not – it’s a start of a conversation about what’s happening with you in your life. Sometimes it maybe about realising the way you interact with those close to you is causing more friction, it could be about not feeling you can reach out to others – or indeed not having people around you to reach out to.
Acknowledging what’s happening in your life is the first step and it can be a difficult one. Part of this is accepting the role that you may be playing in the events in your life. That can be difficult as it can come with embarrassment and shame about the actions that you have or haven’t taken. It is a step where you can begin to understand those feelings and potentially accept what is happening. This can then allow you to look at the options you have or could have in the future – and the steps you want to take next.
I see therapy as a process of uncovering and connecting things; it’s where a conversation happens and bits of data and random information drop out and are collected. You and the therapist can pour over and start to join the dots. Therapy isn’t a magic wand – it’s the start of a connection with someone else where you can focus on you.
Whatever your current concerns are, we here at The Relationship Service would like to offer you the support to take the first step forward in addressing any issues, sometimes making small changes and exploring new possibilities. You can call 0300 003 2324 or book online for an initial appointment.