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Government Launches Call for Evidence to Shape Men’s Health Strategy

Men's Health Groups have called for years for more resources in the NHS for men's health, especially when it comes to mental health!

Streeting's Answer? - push the can of mental health service worms - down the road!

The government has issued a national call for evidence to inform a new strategy aimed at tackling the most pressing health issues affecting men across the UK. The 12-week consultation, open from 24 April to 17 July 2025, invites input from the public, health professionals, researchers, and employers as part of the government's broader Plan for Change to improve healthcare for all.

Given that employers are in the main guilty of ignoring mental health issues in the workplace, continue putting more and more stress on the workforce; many believe that the only response from employer's bodies will be to cry wolf and that legislation currently costs them money.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting emphasised the urgency of addressing male health inequalities, stating:

"Every day, men across England are dying early from preventable causes. Men are hit harder by a range of conditions, while tragically suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50. 

Our Plan for Change means we will tackle these issues head on through a men's health strategy, and today's call for evidence is the crucial next step in understanding what works, what doesn't, and how we can design services men will actually use.

I urge people to come forward to share their views."

But, when it comes to mental health, a lot of NHS services such as adult psychiatry depts, have long disappeared, with the private sector taking over what they now call 'talking therapies'; the provision is usually for just 6 weeks, often takes place over the telephone or via Zoom for example. Seldom is it with properly trained NHS staff, and pateints assessed properly by medical professionals in mental health.

Given that Streeting's whole approach is that people should be responsible for their own health, visit pharmacies before their GPs who are told by the NHS England quango of ex US healthcare company bosses; to only refer a patient to a hospital consultant in an absolute emergency.

GPs are in fact being paid NOT to refer patients on!

The consultation will focus on three main areas:

Prevention: Encouraging healthier behaviours through targeted interventions

Diagnosis and Treatment: Improving outcomes for conditions that disproportionately affect men

Access and Engagement: Reducing barriers men face in using healthcare services

The strategy follows the example of the government’s women’s health strategy, which has already led to targeted action including reforms to gynaecology waiting lists and a national AI breast cancer screening trial.

Streeting forgets that Maternity and Gynaecology services continue to be amongst the worst in Europe due to policies of underfunding the NHS, and privatisation as much of maternity care as possible and out of hospitals. Indeed, deaths during birth are increasing across England.

This will no doubt be the pattern for men's health too, fears many NHS support groups campaigning to stop privatisation.

However, there are those who see this delaying tactic of Streeting's before his actually doing something; as an opportunity:

Dr John Chisholm, Chair of the Men’s Health Forum, welcomed the initiative:

“We’re delighted to see the government take this step. A tailored approach to men’s health is something the Forum and others have long advocated for. We encourage everyone with insights into men’s health to contribute before the July deadline.”

Leading charities including Samaritans and Movember have also expressed strong support for the move.

The government says the new men’s health strategy will be published later this year, following the close of the consultation.

Members of the public and professionals can submit their views via the Department of Health and Social Care website.

Source: Gov.uk / Men's Health Forum / DHSC / NHS / HSJ

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