Men's health covers a range of themes and topics spanning across both mental and physical health.

 
Movember

November is ‘Movember’ – men’s health month raising awareness of mental health, suicide, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Find out more information about Movember here. Suggestions for celebrating the month include growing moustaches and running or walking 60km throughout the month to remember the 60 men who die by suicide globally, every hour.

In the UK, a boy born in 2021 can expect to live 4 years less than a girl (World Bank, 2021). Almost two in five (39%) UK men die prematurely, before they are 75 years old, (NRS, 2021; ONS 2021; NI DoH 2021). In England, the suicide rate is three times higher for men than women (ONS, 2023a), and among men aged 20-34 years suicide is the leading cause of death (ONS, 2023b). There was a 6% increase in suicides (predominantly among middle-aged men) in 2023. Unfortunately, South Yorkshire has been identified nationally as a region that has higher than England average rates of death by suicide - 12.3 per 100,000 (ONS data from 2023, published 2024).

Useful resources and support:

  • Complete a DIY Man MOT on the Men’s Health Forum website. If you are aged 40-74, you should be regularly invited for an NHS health check and bowel and other types of screening are available for men over 50.
  • The Real Face of men's Health Report – This 2024 report by Movember, the Men's Institute of Men's Health outlines the state of men’s health across the UK and makes clear the benefits for families, communities and societies if we improved men’s health – including billions saved by preventing avoidable conditions in men and improvements to the day to day lives of men and those closest to them.
  • Zero Suicide Alliance training: Every chat, no matter how small, builds a more supportive and understanding society. Together, we can make a difference and prioritise suicide prevention, ensuring everyone gets the help they need. We all have a role to play in preventing suicide and supporting people affected or bereaved by suicide. Complete the 20-minute suicide awareness training to gain skills and confidence to help someone who may be considering suicide. You might save someone's life!

 

These are some useful websites relating to Prostate Cancer

https://prostatecanceruk.org/

https://www.theinfopool.co.uk/ - newly developed website from PCUK which encompasses a decision support tool to help men make the right decision regarding prostate cancer from pre diagnosis  to treatment options.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ - useful website about cancer and support available

 

The Real Face Of Men's Health Report

This 2024 report by Movember, the Men's Institute of Men's Health outlines the state of men’s health across the UK and makes clear the benefits for families, communities and societies if we improved men’s health – including billions saved by preventing avoidable conditions in men and improvements to the day to day lives of men and those closest to them.

The Real Face of men's Health Report

The Five Ways to Wellbeing by Men's Health Forum

Five tried and tested ways to feel better right now:

1. Connect

Talk to someone face to face, rather than texting or emailing, talk to someone new or join a club or group.

2. Be active

Take stairs, not the lift, get off public transport a stop earlier and walk the rest of your journey or do an activity that you have not tried for a while.

3. Take notice

Look up to the sky, rather than down at the pavement, take a different route on a familiar journey or go somewhere new for lunch.

4. Learn

Sign up for a class, read a book or learn some practical skills (e.g. how to fix your bike).

5. Give

Volunteer for a charity, visit an elderley relative or neighbour or do someone a favour.

Source: Men's Health Forum

Connecting with others and meeting new people

Round Table - Yorkshire Round Table is a Male only organisation, which gets together to do everything from paintball, karting, brewery visits, to a game of football, or even something as simple a drink at the pub followed by a curry. These evenings are the essence of Round Table – bringing together groups of men! Round Table

Spice Yorkshire is the membership group for adults who want to get out more, try new things, meet new people and make new friends in Yorkshire and beyond.​ From quiz nights to social dining, rock climbing to abseiling, Spice gives you the opportunity to meet others and get involved with countless activities! Spice Yorkshire

Andy's Man Club aims to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and create a judgment-free, confidential space where men can be open about the storms in their lives. The groups are all over the country and meet weekly. Find your nearest group | Andy's Man Club (andysmanclub.co.uk)

Men Sheds are community spaces for men to connect, converse and create. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together. They help reduce loneliness and isolation, but most importantly, they’re fun Home - (menssheds.org.uk).

Hoyland Support & Social Group is a group which organises football sessions on Friday evenings, free boot camp workout groups and a weekly men's group at 6pm on Monday's and a group for all at 7pm to chat and make new connections in the area https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088111207606

Men UTD is an online group for men aged 35 to 55 to support each other and share experiences if you're feeling anxious or low Men Utd - DIAL (dialbarnsley.org.uk)

The Travel Squad is a platform aiming to connect you with new friendship groups based on your interests. There are subgroups for different cities across the UK and members regularly organise walks in the peak district, weekends away and even trips abroad Home | The Travel Squad

Sheffield Walkers are a friendly, sociable walking group who enjoy walking, both for pleasure and for health. Friendship and group support is a core value. They have an extensive Walks Programme with walks on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and offer a full range of walks from short walks of 3-4 miles up to 12 miles, all at a leisurely pace Sheffield Walkers – The walking group for all

Sheffield Dippers is a group for men who meet weekly and take part in walking, hiking and cold water immersion. Facebook / Instagram

 

Useful Links

The Men's Health magazine can be subscribed to or accessed online and often focuses on fitness, nutrition, mental strength and sports Men's Health UK (menshealth.com)

The Men's Health Forum aims to help prevent premature male deaths from preventable causes and has a wealth of information on men’s health, how to look after ourselves and answers to your health questions Male Health | Men's Health Forum (menshealthforum.org.uk)

The DIY Man MOT webpage explains how you can do a quick and easy health check at home DIY Man MOT | Men's Health Forum (menshealthforum.org.uk)

Man Talk SACMHA health and social care https://www.sacmha.org.uk/man-talk/

Sh*t, Shower & Self-Care podcasts on https://shows.acast.com/sht-shower-self-care

Sheffield Children's Hospital self care week videos recordings https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMIZqixhKCwuzK1y8zYPwFRY8ri15f3Mr

Westfield Health's website includes useful resources about men's health such as fact sheets, posters, a webinar recording and a report called 'Unmaking Men's mental health at work'. 

Previous events

Men's Health Awareness by Westfield Health

Andy's Man Club: Men's Mental Health by Oli Vikse

Staying Healthy on Shift by Westfield Health

Covering topics such as; body clock, fatigue, developing resilience to unusual working patterns, what and how to eat on shifts, understanding sleep and top tips for working night shifts.

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Fighting Fit for Winter by Westfield Health

Covering topics such as; top tips to keep fighting fit in the colder season, avoiding the winter blues, how to fight off winter colds, the flu jab and practical ways to boost immunity.

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Healthy Heart by Westfield Health

Covering topics such as; heart disease, risk factors you can change, blood pressure, cholesterol, weight management and lifestyle changes.

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Maintaining Domestic Balance During Pressure by Westfield Health

Covering topics such as; the golden rules for working from home, personal space and boundaries, understanding emotions under pressure and conflict resolution principles.

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Safe Driving and Work Related Travel by Westfield Health

Covering topics such as; understanding & dealing with changing landscape, managing fear & worry, driving to work, public transport and walking & cycling.

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Resources for Line Managers

Westfield Health have created a range of free resources that help build a supportive workplace culture and empower employees to get the support they need, when they need it. 

Read more

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and is taking a stand against suicide, standing up to stereotypes, and standing together to show life is always worth living.

125 lives are lost every week to suicide. And 75% of all UK suicides are male. CALM exists to change this. 

By provoking conversation, running life-saving services, and bringing people together so they reject living miserably, get help when they need it and don’t die by suicide.

Movember

Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men’s health supporting three key causes; suicide prevention, testicular cancer and prostate cancer.

Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men.

Find out more

Andy's man club - a Men’s Mental Health Charity

Offering free-to-attend talking groups for men and challenging the stigmas around Male Mental Health, Andy's Man Club (#ITSOKTOTALK) started-off as one group in the small town of Halifax. Since then, the groups have gone nationwide and have attracted considerable media attention for their grassroots campaigning to reduce suicides in males and promote positive conversations around mental health.

Andy's Story

ManKind Initiative

A confidential helpline available for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence across the UK, as well as for their friends, family, neighhbours, work colleagues and employers.

They provide an information, support and signposting service to men suffering from domestic abuse from their current or former wife, partner (including same-sex partner) or husband.

Available weekdays 10am to 4pm on 01823 334244. Please call 999 in immediate danger.

Find out more

Men's Health Forum

Levelling up men’s health: the case for a men’s health strategy

Across the UK, men’s mental and physical health is unacceptably poor – with around one man in five dying before the age of 65. Covid has worsened the situation with completely disproportionate effects among men. Many services are failing to reach men in time, especially working-age men, even though there are ever more examples of how services can be designed to reach and engage men more effectively. The lesson from other countries is that introducing a men’s health strategy alongside the government’s planned women’s health strategy can change this. This document lays out the case for change.

Sorry, the PDF could not be displayed. Click here to download the PDF

A conversation about men's health (video)

A conversation with men about men's health | Aware

  • Keith Walsh is a presenter, broadcaster, MC, podcaster and mental health advocate. Keith has been open about his own mental health journey to date and he has turned his love of drawing cards into an exercise to encourage reflection and mindfulness with adults and kids alike. He also has a weekly podcasts where he has open conversations with his guests about their life, successes, failures, the good times and the bad.

  • Joey Carbery is a Munster and Ireland rugby player. Born in New Zealand, Joey moved to Ireland when he was 11. He made his senior competitive debut for Leinster in 2016, subsequently joining the Munster squad in 2018. Joey will share insights on the importance of resilience in sport, particularly in relation to his recent personal experience with an injury that kept him out of the game for over a year.

  • Stephen McBride is Director of Services at Aware. He is passionate about the development and delivery of excellent support, education and information services for people experiencing depression, bipolar disorder and other mood related conditions. Stephen is a chartered counselling psychologist and group psychotherapist. We will also had a contribution from Simon Harris TD who is the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. He previously served as Minister for Health from May 2016 to June 2020.

Further recommended support sites

Relate

Relate provides relationship support for people of all ages, backgrounds and sexual orientations

Men's Advice Line

Men’s Advice Line, provided by Respect, offers advice and support to men who are experiencing domestic abuse. The helpline can also signpost to other vital services that help keep men and their children safe. The helpline (0808 8010327) is open 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday; webchat is accessible via the Respect website Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10am to 11am and 3pm to 4pm, with an e-mail service also available on request.

Recommended reading

  • The Health Gap: The Challenge of an Unequal World by Michael Marmot

  • Yoga for Men: Yoga Poses and Exervises Designed for Flexibility, Strength and Stability for Men by Calvin Crane

  • Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer by Patrick C Walsh

  • The Life-Changing Magic of Sheds by Henry Cole

  • The Ultimate MANual: Dr. Samadi's Guide to Men's Health and Wellness by Dr. David Samadi