Launched on International Men's Day, the plan sets out action to tackle the physical and mental health challenges men and boys face every day.
Suicide is one of the biggest killers of men under 50 - three-quarters of all suicides are men. The government is investing £3.6m over the next three years in suicide prevention projects for middle-aged men in local communities across areas of England where men are at most risk of taking their own lives, including some of the most deprived areas in the country. This comes on top of expanding mental health teams in schools to ensure an additional 900,000 pupils have access to support by April 2026.
The projects will break down barriers that middle-aged men face in seeking support, such as the stigma associated with seeking help and a lack of awareness of what is available and how to access it. Projects will be co-designed with experts and men with lived experience of mental health crisis and suicidal thoughts.
The focus on suicide prevention includes a partnership on the Premier League's Together Against Suicide initiative with the Samaritans, which looks to help tackle the stigma around men's mental health and embed health messaging into the matchday experience.
Wes Streeting, secretary of state for health and social care, said: ‘This strategy marks a turning point – the first time we're taking comprehensive, coordinated action to address the health challenges facing men and boys.
‘Teaming up with the Premier League will harness the power of football to break down barriers and reach millions of men who might never walk through a GP's door.
‘We know men are less likely to come forward for healthcare. From partnering with the Premier League to rolling out health support in the workplace – we're meeting men where they are and giving them the support they need to live longer, healthier lives.'
In addition, men with prostate cancer will also benefit from improved care through the strategy, including the development of home prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing for those being monitored for the disease.
From 2027, subject to clinical approval, men diagnosed with prostate cancer, which is being actively monitored or treated, will be able to order and complete PSA blood tests at home, or book an in-person blood test, locally, via the NHS App.
Other key commitments in the Men's Health Strategy include:
- Investing £3m into community-based men's health programmes, designed to reach those most at risk and least likely to engage with traditional services
- Men's health training for healthcare professionals through new e-learning modules and resources
- Workplace health pilots with EDF Energy through the Keep Britain Working Vanguard Programme to support male workers in male-dominated industries
- Enhanced lung disease support for former miners, with increased investment in the Respiratory Pathways Transformation Fund in areas with significant former mining communities
- Funding research to help prevent, diagnose, treat and manage the major male killers and causes of unhealthy life years in men
- A £200,000 trial of new brief interventions to target the rise in cocaine and alcohol-related CVD deaths, particularly among older men.
The men's health strategy supports the government's ambition to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions, while increasing it for everyone.
It tackles unhealthy behaviours, loneliness and social isolation, and harmful societal norms that prevent men seeking help, focusing on places that men frequent such as workplaces and sports clubs to drive change.
A stakeholder group will oversee implementation of the strategy, with the government publishing a one-year report to ensure accountability.
Reaction
Greg Fell, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, said: ‘This new strategy recognises that there is no one solution and sets out sensible and achievable goals that everyone involved in improving men's health and wellbeing can work towards.
‘We are pleased to see this new strategy emphasises preventing the many avoidable illnesses and diseases – including a number of cancers and respiratory and mental health conditions - that are driven by smoking, drinking and gambling. The focus on improving wellbeing is also welcome.
He added: ‘For this strategy to be truly effective, the Government must build on the positive changes are already being made, not just in the short term, but for generations of boys and men to come.'
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor, chair of the LGA's Health and Wellbeing committee, said: ‘Recognising men's health as a national concern is an important step to improving the stark discrepancies in life expectancy and health outcomes, particularly between men living in wealthy and deprived areas.
‘We know that men face unique barriers to care, including lower engagement with preventive services, cultural stigmas and distrust associated with seeking help. Tailored interventions such as mental health outreach and workplace health initiatives are essential to overcoming these issues. Local councils have been working in partnership with community groups and grassroots organisations to effectively address men's health in this way and they remain ideally placed to lead and foster this working.
‘The silent health crisis among men is a pressing issue for society, but with sustained attention and collective action, we can ensure that more men receive the support they need to lead longer, happier and healthier lives.'
Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser at DHSC and chief executive of the NIHR said: ‘We know that men are disproportionately affected by certain conditions, such as some forms of cancer and addiction, and even rates of suicide. This strategy provides a critical focus for the NIHR's research efforts, ensuring we target research to the health and care needs that cause the greatest burden on men's lives.
‘The NIHR is committed to ensuring that research is inclusive and representative, and we are uniquely positioned to help address health inequalities, fund and deliver new research that reaches all men.'
