“‘Health for All’ became the slogan for a movement. It was not just an ideal but an organizing principle: Everybody needs and is entitled to the highest possible standard of health.” — Former WHO Director General Lee Jong-wook

LIFESPAN GENDER GAP

Strategies and Solutions

  • Observe International Men’s Health Week, celebrated every year in June.
  • 10 Policy Steps:
    1. Collect, analyze, and publish wide-ranging and regularly updated data on men’s health to provide a guide to where action is needed and to its impact and effectiveness.
    2. Engage senior decision-makers, including politicians, to achieve faster and more significant progress.
    3. Listen to men’s voices to understand better what their needs are and how best to meet them.
    4. Introduce men’s health policies that address their health needs and integrate men’s health into other health policies, all with clearly identified and realistic deliverables.
    5. Develop outreach services that engage men ‘where they are’, such as local communities, sports venues, faith organisations, or online.
    6. Recognise the differences between men and focus attention on those groups facing multiple layers of disadvantage and who experience the worst health outcomes.
    7. Take account of gender norms by using appropriate ‘male’ interests and language to engage men in health.
    8. Ensure that the needs of boys and young men are reflected in the development and delivery of health policies and services.
    9. Use International Men’s Health Week, observed the second week in June, and other health weeks and days as opportunities to promote men’s health.
    10. Take a ‘male-positive’ approach which builds on men’s strengths and is more likely to engage men and achieve changes in their health practices and the use of services.

SUICIDE

“In today’s social climate, boys and men are bombarded with conflicting messages. On one hand, we encourage them to express their emotions and ‘open up!’ On the other hand, we tell them to ‘shut up! and ‘act like a man.’ This contradictory messaging has contributed to the significant mental health crisis among boys and men today.” — Lisa Britton

Strategies and Solutions

  • Participate in World Suicide Prevention Day, observed every year on September 10.
  • All-Party Parliamentary Group: Tackling Male Suicide
  • Global Action for Men’s Health:
    • Build a robust, nuanced and diverse research evidence base about the problem.
    • Work to make this evidence base accessible.
    • Leverage interest in existing areas of concern.
    • Build a robust, nuanced and diverse evidence base on promising interventions.
    • Consolidate and build from emerging best practices for men and mental health.
    • Leverage the growing number of national and global men’s health policies and advocates to develop integrated and holistic
      strategies.
    • Leverage parallel policy development for women, or for men and other health issues.
    • Build long-term coalitions and networks with individuals and institutions working on issues indirectly related to men and/or
      mental health.

EXTREME WEATHER DEATHS

  • Weather-related mortality in the United States:
  • Global:
    • Men are more likely than women to die during famine.

Strategies and Solutions

  • Correct falsehoods such as this statement from a UN Women Fact Sheet: Females experience “increased morbidity and mortality due to heat waves, floods, storms, fires, and droughts” — a claim that is not supported by the extensive research conducted around the world.

STATEMENTS BY LAWMAKERS AND WORLD BODIES

Numerous statements have been issued in support of men’s health:

World Health Organization – European Region:

  • “In recent years, the health and well-being of men has received increasing attention in the WHO European Region. A key trigger for this attention is the high level of premature mortality among men, particularly in the eastern part of the Region….The adverse mortality among working age men has a profound demographic, economic, and political impact on the Region.” — World Health Organization, European Region, Announcing release of its Strategy on the Health and Well-Being of Men.

Australia:

  • “During 2018 Men’s Health Week, it is important to remember that in Australia, like most countries, males have poorer health outcomes on average than females. More males die at every stage of life. Males have more accidents, are more likely to take their own lives, and are more prone to lifestyle‑related chronic health conditions than women and girls at the same age.” — Greg Hunt MP, Health Minister
  • “Almost half of Australian men are lonely and that men with high levels of loneliness are eight-and-a-half times more likely to have more poor mental health. Men account for six out of eight suicides, almost twice the number of deaths on our national road toll. And men face worst mental and physical health than women during a family breakdown.” — MP Sarah Game, South Australia, Leading proponent for an Office of Men’s Health.
  • “Australian men and boys face challenges in their health and wellbeing. They die earlier than women – and more often from diseases that can be prevented. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in particular live significantly shorter lives than others.” — Hon. Greg Hunt, MP,  Minister for Health, Releasing the National Men’s Health Strategy, 2020-2030.
  • “In 2023, the war on young men and masculinity continues unabated. Promote the virtues of true masculinity, they being justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude.” — Sen. Alex Antic, South Australia

Canada:

England:

  • “It can be hard to be a young man in today’s society, particularly for boys from backgrounds like mine. 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. Preventable killers like heart disease and prostate cancer are being caught far too late. Just as we are determined to end the injustices women face in healthcare, we won’t shy away from the need to focus on men’s health, too. This government will publish a men’s health strategy to tackle these problems head-on.” — Wes Streeting MP, Health Secretary
  • “The Government should appoint a minister for men to champion men’s health and positive male role models.” — MP Katherine Fletcher, South Ribble, Lancashire
  • “Men in the most deprived areas in England live nearly 10 years fewer than those in the least deprived. It is clear working in partnership is the key to addressing men’s health – and councils are ideally placed to lead and foster that.” — Local Government Association, 2024.

Ireland:

  • “It is well-documented that women are more likely to seek access to counselling services than men, with women making up two thirds of all clients availing of our national counselling service. However, around 80% of all people who die by suicide are men. We need to make it easier for men to access help when they need it, and this initiative aims to do just that.” Mary Butler T.D., Minister for Mental Health

Micronesia:

  • “Men in the Federated States of Micronesia have a shorter life expectancy than women (64 years vs.67 years), according to the FSM 2000 census.” — President Manny Mori

New Zealand:

  • “Men’s Health Week is a good and timely reminder that no one should ever feel ashamed or afraid to reach out for support with their mental health challenges in their time of need. We know men are less likely to reach out for help and are overrepresented in New Zealand’s suicide statistics. This Government is working at pace to increase access to support so we can ensure when people are reaching out for support, they receive it when and where they need it.” Matt Doocey, Minister for Mental Health

Northern Mariana Islands:

  • “I am very humbled to recognize the efforts of the Department of Public Health in taking a step to increasing awareness of men’s health needs. I admit that during stressful times, it is very easy to neglect our health.” — Governor Ralph DLG. Torres

South Africa:

  • “Evidence shows that men participate less in preventive health services, seek medical help at a later stage than women and receive more informal care. There is also an understanding that the design of health services and the settings in which they are delivered are important factors influencing the way health systems respond to men’s health issues.” — Dr. ZL Mkhize, MP, Minister of Health, announcing release of the South African National Integrated Men’s Health Strategy, 2020-2025.

United States:

  • June 13, 2025: “For far too long, the health, happiness, and well-being of our Nation’s men have been neglected…This neglect has been compounded by a vicious campaign against masculinity…This war on manhood has left many American men in a state of loneliness, confusion, and emptiness.” — President Donald Trump
  • Additional statements on men’s health have been issued by federal and state lawmakers.
  • Also see Proclamations for Men’s Health Week.