Men’s Health

• On average, men die 4 years earlier than women. Even today, in the UK one man in five dies before the age of 65
• Men go to the doctor less than women – Men go to the doctor just as much as women once they retire. The big gap is in working age. Men’s Health Forum research shows that a major factor is reluctance to take time off work – particularly for mental health issues

 

Premature Mortality (Under 75) from All Causes (Male, 3 year range)

Indicator Name	Area Name	Directly standardised under 75 mortality rate per 100,000 (male)	Count	Better or Worse than England Average
Under 75 mortality rate from all causes	Tendring	473.2748	1,127	Worse
Under 75 mortality rate from all causes	Ipswich	422.4635	697	Worse
Under 75 mortality rate from all causes	East Suffolk	359.3199	1,427	Similar
Under 75 mortality rate from all causes	Colchester	358.4912	842	Similar
Under 75 mortality rate from all causes	West Suffolk	335.7777	814	Better
Under 75 mortality rate from all causes	Babergh	301.4901	445	Better
Under 75 mortality rate from all causes	Mid Suffolk	301.0379	502	Better

Men’s health is also disproportionately impacted by social exclusion – the gap in life expectancy between men and women widens with increased deprivation, reaching 4.6 years in the lowest deprivation decile

• 50-55% of men between the ages of 40 and 70 years old suffer from Erectile Dysfunction (ED) – One in ten men will experience ED at some point in their lifetime
• It can be an early warning sign of high blood pressure or cholesterol and diabetes, and has also been linked with increased risks of cardiovascular disease (+43% risk), dementia (+68% risk) – 90% of men with ED have at least one underlying physical cause for their problem
• Men are 67% more likely to die from the common cancers that affect both sexes (other than breast cancer)
• Prostate Cancer – 1 in 6 UK males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. It accounts for 27% of all new cancer cases in males in the UK, and accounted for 14% of all cancer deaths in males in the UK (2017-2019).
• Incidence rates for prostate cancer are lower in the Asian ethnic group and in people of mixed or multiple ethnicity, but higher in the Black ethnic group, compared with the White ethnic group, in males in England (2013-2017)
• Testicular Cancer – Since the early 1990s, testicular cancer incidence rates have increased by more than a quarter (27%) in males in the UK (2016-2018).
• In recent years the survival rate for testicular cancer is above 95%. Testicular cancer deaths in England are more common in males living in the most deprived areas.
• Circulatory Disease – Men account for 76% of premature deaths from heart disease and majority of those with Type 2 diabetes, but a minority of those having NHS Health Checks
• In the UK, one in eight men  die from coronary heart disease
• Ipswich and Tendring have the highest rates of premature mortality from cardiovascular disease – both are higher than the England average with 119.2 per 100,000 and 115.2 per 100,000 respectively
• Men are three times more likely to die from suicide than women – The peak age group for death from suicide is 45-49. There are almost as many deaths from suicide amongst men over the age of 50 as there are for men under 45.
• Males are more likely to respond to stress by taking risks like misusing alcohol.
• Relationship breakdowns – marriage breakdown is more likely to lead men to suicide.
• Emotional literacy – men are less likely to have a positive view of talking therapies.
• Men report lower levels of life satisfaction than women
• research suggests that men who can’t speak openly about their emotions may be less able to recognise symptoms of mental health problems in themselves and less likely to seek support
• Higher rates of suicide are also found in minority communities, including gay men, war veterans, men from BAME backgrounds, and those with low incomes
• Victims of violence – The CSEW estimated that 60% of victims of violence were male, and 1 in 5 victims of ‘Honour Based Abuse’ (where the victim is LGBT – 63% male, or where they have mental capacity concerns – 55% male)
• A study showed that about one in four persons that reported DVA against them to the police were male. National crime surveys suggest that only about 10% of male victims tell the police

The Mental Health Foundation highlights:

• Higher rates of suicide are found in minority communities, including gay men, war veterans, men from ethnic minority backgrounds, and those with low incomes including middle-aged men with low incomes.
• Men report lower levels of life satisfaction than women (Government’s national well-being survey)
• Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women: only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies
• Men are far more likely than women to go missing, sleep rough, be dependent on alcohol and use drugs frequently.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on issues affecting men and boys points out:

• Men tend to talk about mental health less due to societal expectations and traditional gender roles – to be strong, in control, the breadwinner.
• Men tend to lack of health literacy from an early age, with teenage boys not being supported to understand how their minds and body work, how to deal with their emotions, and how to use health systems.
• Research suggests men who can’t speak openly about emotions are less able to recognise mental health symptoms, talk to friends and family, and seek help.

The Mental Health Foundation recommends support should meet men’s preferences, be easy to access, meaningful and engaging.

Male Health | Men’s Health Forum (menshealthforum.org.uk)

Mortality in England and Wales – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

Avoidable mortality in Great Britain – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

Deaths registered in England and Wales – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

Prostate cancer statistics | Cancer Research UK

UK Erectile Dysfunction Statistics: How Common is it & Why? – ED Clinics

Supporting male victims (accessible) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

LondonBoroughsDVservicesFinalReport rev6.pdf (parity-uk.org)

The nature of violent crime in England and Wales – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

Men and mental health | Mental Health Foundation

Suffolk Libraries – Men can talk social groups open to men of all ages and backgrounds. providing a relaxed and non-judgemental environment for men to discuss mental health and wellbeing and find peer support.

Community Action Suffolk – Mens Sheds The Suffolk Men’s Sheds project is a network of community spaces operating in various venues, offering different activities.