The statistics on men’s health and wellbeing show that there’s still a lot of progress that needs to be made.

While the health and wellbeing of every employee in the workplace are important, there are certain illnesses that affect men more than women. But before we look into the ways in which we can create more awareness and support for men, it’s important to understand the specific struggles that they face—especially those in the UK workforce.

mental health: 1 in 8 men in the UK reportedly suffer from mental health challenges while 3 out of 4 suicides in the UK are men. This statistic highlights the need for men to get the proper mental health support they need.

depression and anxiety: depression and anxiety impact both genders, but men often face stigma when seeking support for their mental health issues. As a result, they’re far less likely to disclose their anxiety or depression to seek professional help. This contributes to greater future challenges.

physical health: health conditions like cardiovascular disease are prevalent among men in the UK. In fact, the British Heart Foundation states that men are far more likely to develop heart-related illnesses and require more interventions. Prostate cancer is also among the other physical illnesses that are impacting men where early detection can help get them the medical care they need.

why do men neglect their health? 

Multiple excuses constantly push men’s health and wellbeing into the background. Some of these include:

• fear of having a serious medical condition
• inability to find the time for a medical check-up
• embarrassment from a condition they may have
• uncomfortable with a physical examination

This is where workplace health initiatives are vital. For instance, GP helplines that operate 24/7 can offer medical support and advice while still protecting patients’ anonymity, making it much easier to seek medical assistance if, in fact, they’re uncomfortable speaking in person.

how do you make health and wellbeing a men’s issue?

Men often tend to neglect their health because of the perception that health is a women’s issue. If you take a peek at magazines or even media that target women, they have historically combined health and beauty into a single topic. The suggestion here is that in order to be beautiful, you need to be healthy—particularly when it comes to weight.

This can easily result in men thinking that it excludes them when studies show that only 10-30% of participants in weight management programmes are men.

Whether it be weight or any other health concern, the language needs to change when discussing such topics so inclusivity is promoted, with the subject matter being applicable to both men and women.

what are some tips and strategies to champion men’s health and wellbeing in the workplace?

Simple tips and strategies can make a world of difference when it comes to addressing everyone’s health and wellbeing in the workplace. Here are a few to help you get started:

• consider using language that isn’t overly focusing on one gender or lifestyle over another
• make resources and information available on an online platform that can be easily accessed anonymously from anywhere
• create communications that don’t alienate or intimidate
• personalise messages as much as possible without causing embarrassment
• ask employees about what they’re interested in and build an open dialogue
• use events like social activities and sports to subtly spread awareness about health and wellness issues
• encourage employees to build their own communities for health and wellbeing support

final thoughts on men’s health and wellbeing from kinhub

Supporting men’s health and wellness at work isn’t just about creating a healthier workplace. Whether you’re implementing strategies that reinforce mental health support, work-life balance, or health check-ups, it’s important to empower men to take control of their health.

There are many ways in which you can offer your support including enlisting the help of professional employee wellbeing consultants, who can help the men in your workplace create a better culture and develop a better understanding of what it means to be healthy.