Men’s Health Programs: Proven Effective in Reducing Male Mortality

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Contact: Henry Herrera

Telephone: +1-301-801-0608

Men’s Health Programs: Proven Effectiveness in Reducing Male Mortality

April 30, 2026 – Global health data show men face substantial health disadvantages. Men die five years earlier than women (68.9 years vs. 73.9 years), and global suicide rates among men are nearly three times higher than among women (14.7 vs. 5.3 per 100,000 persons) (1).

In response, comprehensive men’s health plans already have been developed for Australia, Brazil, England, Ireland, Malaysia, South Africa, and Europe (2). Last year, the Australian Labor Party named Dan Repacholi MP as the Special Envoy for Men’s Health (3). In February, the Canadian government announced it is seeking input to develop a men’s and boys’ health strategy (4).

The lifespan gender gap is caused in large part by preventable risk factors. For example, 45% of new cancer cases in men (compared to 30% of cancer cases in women) are caused by modifiable risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and preventable infections (5).

But the question remains, do men’s health programs actually succeed in reducing risk factors to increase male longevity? The results are impressive:

Smoking: In 1965, 52% of American men were smokers. By 2022, only 13% of men used cigarettes. This reduction can be attributed to a combination of public health measures: the 1964 Surgeon General’s report, public education campaigns, taxes on purchases, advertising restrictions, and smoke-free policies. (6)
Suicide: In 2022 a new crisis hotline was launched, allowing Americans at risk of suicide to receive help by calling or texting the number “988.” As a result, the number of suicides among persons ages 15 to 34 declined by 11%, which translated to more than 4,300 fewer deaths (7). In Finland, a suicide prevention program recorded even greater mortality reductions (8).
Road Traffic: A 2001 EU transport policy set a goal of reducing road deaths by half by 2010. And a 2003 Road Safety Action Programme promoted stronger enforcement of speeding and drunk-driving laws. As a result from 2000 to 2023, European countries saw a reduction in the gender lifespan gap of up to one year. (9)
Alcohol: Average consumption has fallen in most European countries since 2013.In Poland and the Baltic countries, for example, a combination of tax increases, availability restrictions, and advertising bans led to a 2.3% reduction in age-standardized all-cause mortality rates among men aged 20+. (10)
Overall Benefit: In Ireland, the National Men’s Action Plan has shown impressive improvements from 2007 to 2024: (11)
- Preventive screening participation: 42% to 67%
- Men visiting a GP annually: 59% to 74%
- Male suicide rate: 19.5 to 13.1
- Male life expectancy: 76.8 years to 80.4 years

Expanding men’s health programs is not a “zero sum game.” Helping men to avoid premature death affords major benefits to elderly women, as well:

Less emotional and psychological trauma from bereavement (12)
Decreased burdens of daily living (13)
Fewer out-of-pocket medical expenditures (14)
Diminished poverty risk (15)
Avoid three times greater risk of being admitted to a nursing home (16)
Minimize 48% greater risk of widowhood mortality (17)

The American Medical Association has approved a Resolution calling on government bodies to establish offices of men’s health (18). The time for action is now.

The International Council for Men and Boys is a non-governmental organization working to end the 12 sex disparities that affect men and boys worldwide. The ICMB is a leader of the emerging global movement to address these disparities. https://www.menandboys.net/

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