How healthy are your male colleagues? How aware are they – and you – of the issues that affect their health and the problems that could develop without intervention? And what, as an employer, can you do to help?
We are marking Men’s Health Week, which this year takes place on the 12th-18th June, with a look at some of the prevention steps we can all take. But it’s not just about awareness, it’s about having the courage to do something about it. In turn this depends on the support offered by organisations.
What is Men’s Health Week?
Men’s Health Week has been an annual campaign since 2002. Its main aim is to seek attention and awareness toward the well-being of men across the world. Last year the UK event, organised by the Men’s Health Forum, focused on the need to do an annual men’s health MOT. This year, the focus is on the dangers of excessive time spent online.
Cordell Health is fully supportive of the objectives of the campaign. So many issues affect men’s physical and mental health and the more well-known the week becomes, the more men will hopefully feel it’s OK to talk about their health issues.
Men’s health stats – why we need to act
The numbers don’t lie. Men tend to live shorter lives than women. According to the Men’s Health Forum, one man in five (19%) dies before the age of 65 in the UK.
What’s more, fewer than one in 10 men, and only 16 per cent of women, in the UK are likely to be good health by the time they reach retirement, according to new research from the Institute for Public Policy Research.
To make matters worse, there seems to be truth in the stereotype that men are more unwilling to seek medical help when health issues arise. The Men’s Health Forum found that men are less likely to visit their doctor, to acknowledge illness and to seek help, compared to women.
Other worrying statistics around men’s health include:
- Men are nearly three times more likely than women to become alcohol dependent (8.7% of men are alcohol dependent compared to 3.3% of women). Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre.
- Over a third of men (35%) think they’ve had a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life – but 40% of them don’t want to talk about it. Source: The Priory Group.
- 75% of suicides are male. Source: Office for National Statistics.
- Men account for 65% of people living with coronary heart disease in the UK, and 75% of premature deaths from the disease. Source: Men’s Health Forum.
- Men have a 37% higher risk of dying from cancer than women. Source: Men’s Health Forum.
- Men are more likely to be affected by being overweight or obese than women in the UK. 68% of men aged 16 years and over are overweight or obese, compared with 60% of women. Source: NHS (2022).
Proactive steps employers can take
Employers can play a powerful role in turning around the direction of men’s health for the better. The statistics show a clear picture of poor men’s health but with intervention, it’s thought that half of all premature male deaths are preventable.
The following are by no means a definitive guide, more a start point for men’s health to form part of a more comprehensive wellbeing strategy.
- Mental health – starting the conversation
We have to encourage more men to talk about the issues affecting their mental health. It’s been a taboo topic for years but, if there is one positive from the Covid pandemic, it’s that workplaces are more open about the need to share the problems many of us have faced – for both men and women. Seeking help should not be seen as a sign of weakness, it’s now ‘Ok to not feel OK’.
Organisations can help by making work a safe place to share mental health issues, in particular, training colleagues and line managers to be able to open up the conversation about mental health. To help with this, we recently published a blog about how to get the conversation started around mental health.
- Managing burnout in men
According to the World Health Organisation, burnout is a syndrome resulting from ‘chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed’. It’s also a condition that many men aren’t aware they have, putting the symptoms of burnout such as irritability, loss of energy, self-doubt and overwhelm as ‘part of the territory’ in a demanding job. The danger is particularly acute where remote workers work extended hours out of sight of those that may be able to spot the signs and help.
Research suggests men burn out differently to women, partly due to stereotypes of being the breadwinner where asking for help is perceived as a sign of weakness – if they are even aware they have a problem. Single men in particular often have no one to turn to outside of work. Line managers in particular should make a point of checking in with male colleagues who spend extended time out of the office.
- Exercise and diet
Lifestyle can affect men’s health in both a negative and positive way. While men tend to consume more alcohol and eat less healthy food – in particular where shift patterns can add an extra challenge – they can be helped to make positive lifestyle changes.
As an employer, you can run health awareness days, improve the quality of the food served on your premises and offer on-site or reduced cost gym membership. You can also encourage more physical activity with subsidies for bicycles and have outdoor meetings. A little creativity can produce a number of healthier behaviours.
We’ve published two diet related articles that may help you raise awareness of healthier options. A healthier approach to processed foods at work and Eating well – with pulses and vegetarian and vegan options.
- Use of the internet – and other forms of addiction
This year’s theme for Men’s Health Week by the Men’s Health Forum covers internet use. The use of a mobile device delivers dopamine to the brain which creates feelings of pleasure and can be addictive itself. In so doing, they also serve as an ‘always on’ portal into more damaging internet-fuelled addictions.
Too much of the wrong use of the internet can lead to behaviours that can affect men’s health, work and relationships. There’s risk of exposure to online gambling and the toxic communities that can target men. More information about the 2023 campaign and links to relevant webinars can be found here: Men’s health and the internet.
- General men’s health MOT – looking for warning signs
Last year’s campaign for Men’s Health Week focused on one of the most effective strategies in promoting better men’s health – taking proactive action by being more aware thanks to a men’s health MOT. Covering a whole range of topics from heart fitness to the warning signs for cancers and other health risks, the checks point to specific men’s health issues including prostate and erectile dysfunction.
The resource is still available, and you may also find some of the content helpful in framing some of your content for your own men’s health awareness initiatives. Here’s the link to the DIY Man MOT. It’s also worth reminding your male employees that, from the age of 40 all men are also entitled to free midlife health check from the NHS every five years, to assess their risk factors against a number of health issues.
- Encouraging take-up of your wellbeing services
Research published by global management consultancy Gartner in 2021 found that the actual take up of corporate wellbeing programmes was running at just 23%. While this number may have risen, post Covid, it illustrates just how challenging it can be to get your people to engage with your efforts to look after their health and wellbeing. This of course equally applies to men.
Communication and engagement are therefore a vital part of your wellbeing strategy. For all the reasons we’ve discussed in this article, men may resist your well intentioned attempts to encourage their involvement. This is why the support of your leadership team can make a difference. Senior leaders have the ability to champion causes, break taboos and can influence your culture towards a more open approach to all wellbeing topics which can only help men as a result.
In conclusion
Men’s Health Week has raised topical men’s health issues for more than 20 years, but lasting improvements in men’s health require effort 365 days of the year. As employers, we need to take those proactive steps to turn around some of the stark statistics around men’s health – both physical and mental. Prevention really can make a difference. It, will however, only begin to work if that awareness turns into action.
Photo by Jenny Hill on Unsplash
