Saturday 19^th November 2022 marked International Men’s Day and our fantastic HR & Engagement officer; Sam Brown has provided some useful information.

What better day to celebrate the men and boys in our lives in all their diversity?  It’s also an opportunity to address key issues that men and boys face. In the UK a particular issue is men’s health and the Gender Health Gap.

Gender Health Gap  

According to research by UNUM, there is a distinct inequality between men’s and women’s health. What causes this gender health gap?

One of the key reasons men are less healthy than women is that they avoid asking for medical help. In 2012, a study by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) found, on average, UK men visited their GP four times a year, compared to women’s six visits. Men were also almost five times less likely on average to consult a pharmacist.

Sadly this does mean that 1-5 men die in the UK before the age of 65.  They are more likely to die from heart disease, be overweight or take their own life.  With these sobering facts in mind it’s a good opportunity to remind our important males of the support that’s available.

What can we do?

• Take this opportunity to encourage the men around you to access support and help, promoting  positive conversations about men, manhood and masculinity.
• Get involved in workplace mental health wellbeing groups and workplace challenges.
• Find out what resources your employer can offer to help encourage men to address their health in a more innovative and accessible way.

We hope this helps and please do speak to advo to understand how to make the most of your benefits for your employees.