As Men’s Health Awareness Month comes to an end, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced the development of a national strategy for men’s health.
The initiative aims to address key health challenges disproportionately affecting men, such as cardiovascular disease, prostate and testicular cancer, mental health issues, and suicide prevention.
The announcement was made at a Men’s Health Summit hosted by Arsenal Football Club in collaboration with men’s health awareness charity Movember, and the Premier League. The strategy – part of the Labour government’s proposed “ten-year plan” for the NHS – is expected to outline the government’s approach to addressing the growing challenges within the healthcare system.
According to the government, men in the UK die nearly four years earlier than women on average. They also face higher rates of preventable illnesses, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and account for three out of four suicides. Despite these risks, men are less likely than women to seek medical help, particularly for mental health issues.
Streeting highlighted the urgency of the issue: “Preventable killers like heart disease and prostate cancer are being caught far too late. We’re seeing mental ill-health on the rise, and the shocking fact that suicide is the biggest killer for men under the age of 50.”
The strategy will include a public consultation to gather evidence on what is working and identify areas for improvement. Key topics include targeted prevention measures, closing the life expectancy gap between men and women, and exploring the viability of prostate cancer screening programmes.
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Currently, NHS guidelines for England say anyone can request a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test if they are over the age of 50. However, there is currently no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK because there is no reliable test that can detect the illness requiring treatment at an early stage.
Recent attention on prostate cancer, sparked by Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy’s terminal diagnosis, has led to a surge in inquiries about the disease. In response, the NHS has committed to reviewing its advice on prostate cancer testing and examining potential screening options for high-risk groups.
Michelle Terry, CEO of men’s health charity Movember, welcomed the initiative: “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 up and down the country.”
This announcement follows the publication of a Women’s Health Strategy in 2022, where the Conservative government under Boris Johnson said that not enough focus is placed on women-specific issues such as miscarriage or menopause, and women are underrepresented when it comes to important clinical trials.
