U.K. – As Men’s Health Awareness Month draws to a close, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has revealed plans for a comprehensive Men’s Health Strategy aimed at tackling the country’s most pressing health issues affecting men.
The strategy, unveiled at a Men’s Health Summit hosted by Arsenal Football Club in collaboration with Movember and the Premier League, forms part of Labour’s proposed ten-year plan for the NHS.
It aims to address significant challenges such as cardiovascular disease, prostate and testicular cancer, mental health issues, and suicide prevention—all areas where men face higher risks.
A call for evidence on the strategy will seek views on what is working and what more needs to be done to close the life expectancy gap between men and women.
Speaking at Arsenal Football Club, Mr Streeting spoke to campaigners, including the UK Men’s Sheds Association, Prostate Cancer UK and the African Advocacy Foundation, to hear directly about the obstacles currently facing men’s health.
Bridging the health gap
Men in the UK live almost four years less than women on average and face higher rates of preventable diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
They also account for three out of four suicides, yet are significantly less likely to seek medical help, particularly for mental health issues.
Highlighting the urgency, Streeting said: “Preventable killers like heart disease and prostate cancer are being caught far too late. Mental ill-health is rising, and suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 50.”
Strategy Highlights
The Men’s Health Strategy will include a public consultation to gather evidence, identify gaps, and propose actionable solutions. Key areas of focus include:
Currently, NHS guidelines allow men aged 50 and older to request a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, but no national screening programme exists due to a lack of reliable early-stage detection methods.
However, the NHS is now reviewing its guidance and exploring screening options for high-risk groups following a surge in public interest sparked by Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy’s terminal diagnosis.
The announcement has received praise from health organizations. Michelle Terry, CEO of Movember, expressed her support, stating:
“Movember welcomes the government’s leadership on this and stands ready to work with the Secretary of State and his team to make the Men’s Health Strategy a reality that brings real change to lives across the country.”
This strategy follows the publication of the Women’s Health Strategy in 2022, which addressed gaps in care for women-specific issues, such as miscarriage and menopause, and highlighted the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials.
