MP discusses role of national Men's Health week 

We’ve always known that men’s health is generally poorer than that of women. Men are twice as likely as women to develop heart disease before they hit retirement for instance. They are also much more likely to indulge in ‘risky’ behaviour than women, and are in general much less well informed about health and healthy living than women. Men are also far less inclined to seek medical help when they need it: on average men visit their GP only half as often as women.

It is only in the last ten or fifteen years however that we’ve started to put in place measures designed specifically to improve men’s health outcomes.

One of the important lessons we’ve learnt is that simply lecturing men about their health will get us nowhere. Instead of shaking our heads and telling men to take more responsibility for their health and get help when they need it, what we have to do is design services that men actually want to use.

Many men, younger men in particular, don’t like visiting their local surgery, because they see them as female orientated environments. They may however be more willing to seek help and advice if it is based in a familiar setting such as the workplace.

This is one of the goals of this year’s national men’s health week, which I am supporting in my role as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Men’s Health Group.

The week, which starts on 9 June, aims to highlight the role that employers can play in educating men about health risks and promoting healthy living. Some of the country’s biggest employers of men, such as Royal Mail and BT, have already set schemes on these lines. Over 16,000 BT staff for instance signed up for an online programme focusing on nutrition and physical activity.
What we have to do now is to encourage other employers to follow their lead.

Adopting such a policy makes good financial sense. Not only does it help to improve staff morale and wellbeing, but it can help to cut the costs of absenteeism. One recent report in fact found that every pound spent on promoting health in the workplace could lead to a £2.50 saving for businesses. Making men’s health a priority therefore is something every business should consider.

For more information about National Men’s Health Week visit www.menshealthforum.org.uk