Peter Baker
Director, Global Action on Men’s Health
Men’s health is poor throughout the world. Men lead shorter lives than women and are more likely to die before the age of 50.
Globally, men are 19% more likely than women to develop cancer and 43% more likely to die from it. The suicide rate is twice as high in men. These outcomes are bad news for men, but they also impact women, children and workplaces.
Why a men’s health gap exists
Men smoke more than women, drink more alcohol, eat a poorer diet and drive faster. They are more likely to work in hazardous jobs, access health checks at lower rates and, when they are ill, it takes them longer to see a health professional.
Masculinity, the set of gender norms that influences men’s attitudes and behaviours, is undoubtedly part of the picture. In many cultures, men are encouraged to take risks, act tough and avoid admitting weakness by asking for help. Masculinity also leads men to be providers for and protectors of their families, but when it comes to health, its influence is mostly unhelpful.
Men are largely absent from global cancer,
mental health and sexual health policies.
Delivering messages about men’s health
The way many health services are designed and delivered is also important. Too often, health services fail to take the realities of men’s lives into account. Men generally work full-time and longer hours than women, making it harder to access a service that is open only during standard office hours. Health promotion messaging about smoking, for example, is rarely ‘male-friendly’ — unlike marketing for cars, beer or gambling.
Addressing men’s health needs through policy
Finally, and crucially, men’s needs have not been reflected in policy. For instance, Global Action on Men’s Health has found that men are largely absent from global cancer, mental health and sexual health policies. Only nine countries have national men’s health policies.
National governments and global health organisations need to take proper account of men’s health needs in their policies. This, in turn, must lead to the development of easy-to-use services and better-targeted health information. Not doing so will continue to fail men, their families and societies.
Learn more at gamh.org
White, A. (2025). Populations at special health risk: Men. In S. Quah (Ed.), International encyclopedia of public health (3rd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 792–818). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99967-0.00019-3
