Men in England are facing “a silent health crisis”, dying nearly four years earlier than women, while suffering disproportionately higher rates of cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
So says a new report from the LGA, which highlights severe inequalities, with men in deprived areas living up to 10 years less than their affluent counterparts and facing a 20-year gap in healthy life expectancy.
‘Men’s health: the lives of men in our communities’ found socio-economic and behavioural factors, including higher levels of smoking and excessive drinking, were contributory factors. In addition, the report says four out of every five suicides are by men.
The LGA is urging the Government to implement a men’s health strategy similar to the women’s health strategy of 2022. It wants men’s health to be recognised as “a national concern”.
It is also calling for local suicide prevention funding to be reinstated.
The £57 million fund, which goes to councils to provide vital support for those at risk of suicide, ended in March.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Men in England are facing a silent health crisis. We are calling for men’s health to be recognised as a national concern, and for the Government to implement a men’s health strategy.
“Innovative local initiatives led by councils are making strides, but national action is needed to help close the life-expectancy gap.”
