Men's health guidance

• More than 75 per cent of active online betting accounts are held by men, making gambling a significant issue that can impact men’s mental health.    

There are some male-specific cancers that males may feel worried about. Routine bowel cancer screening is available for those aged 60 or above. Raising awareness and having sufficient information about the types of cancers men may feel worried about could be beneficial. The following charities provide a range of support and resources:

• Prostate Cancer UK
• Testicular Cancer

Some men may experience symptoms in midlife, such as reduced energy, low mood, sleep problems, weight gain or difficulty concentrating. 

These symptoms are often linked to a range of factors, including lifestyle, physical health or psychological wellbeing, rather than a sudden hormonal change. Testosterone levels naturally decline with age, but usually gradually and without causing significant issues. 

It is important to understand the underlying causes of symptoms and provide appropriate support where needed. 
 

Further information is available on the NHS male menopause web page.

Example from practice

East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust developed its own guidance after identifying that a significant proportion of its workforce were in the age group most likely to experience these symptoms. This helped managers and staff better understand the issue and encouraged more open conversations.

Menopause and its impact on men

Menopause can also affect men indirectly, for example when supporting a partner, family member or colleague. 

Research shows that menopause symptoms can affect relationships and wellbeing, including sleep and emotional health. Providing accessible information can help staff better understand and support others. 

Organisations should ensure menopause support is inclusive and available to all staff. This may include providing information sessions or resources for men who want to learn how to support someone experiencing menopause. 

Loneliness in men is a widespread but often underestimated issue, affecting mental health, relationships, alcohol consumption and even workplace wellbeing. The lack of men acknowledging loneliness exacerbates its impact, particularly in socially deprived areas and high-stress professions like healthcare. 

Addressing this issue requires targeted interventions that encourage open conversations, reduce stigma and improve support systems across different demographics. 

Further resources on loneliness:

• Loneliness and social isolation
• Men's loneliness is misunderstood, and the solution isn't just about social contact
• Loneliness Awareness Week

Domestic abuse affects a significant number of men, with hundreds of thousands experiencing it each year. Many do not disclose their experiences or seek help, and this can have a serious impact on mental and emotional wellbeing. 

Managers should be aware that men may be less likely to come forward and should be able to recognise signs of both physical and emotional abuse. Providing safe, confidential support and clear signposting is essential. 

NHS guidance and specialist organisations offer resources to help staff access support, seek help, or support colleagues. 

• Understanding the needs of male-identifying staff is essential for designing effective interventions. You can use the NHS Health and Wellbeing Framework diagnostic tool to assess organisational performance and identify priority areas relevant to men’s health.  
• Review workforce data (e.g. ESR) to understand demographics and trends.  
• Analyse sickness absence, particularly patterns linked to mental and physical health. 
• Use staff survey results to identify themes such as help-seeking behaviour. 
• Consider demographic factors like age, role type, and working patterns to tailor interventions and communication channels.  
• Work with occupational health to understand referrals and service uptake. Gather qualitative insight through focus groups or anonymous feedback to explore barriers and motivators specific to men.  

Just over half the people in SWAST identify themselves as males. The trust's in-house staff wellbeing support service - the Staying Well Service - was developed to bring awareness and education to male wellbeing concerns. Its dedicated intranet section, aptly named 'Testoster-zone', houses a wide variety of information on male health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s mental health, signposting men to information, resources and support.  

The trust is currently reviewing its suicide resources to raise awareness and help remove the taboo around talking about suicide, and to raise specific awareness of male suicide; the risk of suicide in male paramedics is 75 per cent higher than any other healthcare professional. 

During 2021/22, the organisation piloted different activities as part of its NHSE Enhanced Health and Wellbeing pilot funding. Activities included a series of webinars aimed at men and hosted by Westfield Health, virtual sessions run by Andy's Man Club, opening up menopause webinars to male colleagues and creating a web page specific to men's health.  

During 2023/24 the trust conducted a project to research more on men’s health and how to encourage men to consider their health and wellbeing. The team surveyed male colleagues on what they thought of the pilot scheme and set up a task-and-finish group to look at what could be done in the future. They also arranged virtual Men-o-pause cafes aimed at men and facilitated by male-trained menopause advocates - part of South Yorkshire's Mission: Menopause Project, which trained male menopause champions and advocates. 

The trust was aware that male colleagues found it harder to access health and wellbeing support. In response, they introduced targeted initiatives such as walk and talk days, Andy's Man Club sessions and the introduction of male menopause advocates. The team also introduced know your numbers sessions, where they visit departments to carry out basic health checks on staff, including blood pressure and BMI, and to signpost the support available. 

To specifically target male colleagues within wellbeing initiatives, the trust marketed its health surveillance and promotion as 'having a car MOT, having a health MOT - getting your chassis checked'. The wellbeing team engaged with male staff directly, for example, hosting workshops and pop-up health checks for male colleagues within estates and facilities. They also organised specific activities such as football tournaments, men's health quizzes, and dad and kid crafting groups. 

• Andy’s Man Club offers nationwide talking groups for men. 

• Men's Shed holds community spaces for men to connect, converse and create, aiming to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. 

• The Men’s Health Forum contains information, online training and resources surrounding men’s health and wellbeing. It has several downloadable toolkits and posters that cover topics such as stress, weight loss and diabetes. 

• NHS Practitioner Health is a free, confidential, NHS primary care mental health and addiction service with expertise in treating health and care professionals.