Silence, societal expectations and harmful stereotypes that discourage men from seeking support have held back conversations about men’s wellbeing for too long, writes Dr Robin Clark, Medical Director for Bupa Global, India and UK Insurance.
It’s well known that men face specific health challenges such as higher rates of suicide, lower life expectancy and increased prevalence of certain health conditions, while also being less likely to seek medical help for both physical and mental health concerns.
The ripple effect of lack of communication breaks down relationships, reduces workplace productivity, and increases the burden on healthcare systems as men seek support when things become more serious.
Our latest Bupa Wellbeing Index [1] examines this important issue and encourages conversations between generations about health and wellbeing.
Mental health
Half of men in the UK have suffered with poor mental health at some point during their lives. Yet only 40% of those surveyed say they’d talk to a medical professional, 30% to their partner and 24% to a friend. And 30% of men still don’t know where to turn for help, which suggests an urgent need for better awareness of mental health treatment options.
Relationships are inextricably linked with mental health – when one suffers, the other often suffers too. Yet, more than a third of men say that they have hidden their mental health issue from their partner.
Two thirds of people say that there’s still stigma attached to men’s mental health issues, although they feel that this has improved over the past five years. Half of men with mental health issues say that observing male public figures talking openly about their issues would encourage them to talk about their own struggles.
Employers are also seen as key, all age groups want them to offer more support for men struggling with their mental health (49% of men aged 25-34, 49% of those aged 35-44, 40% of those aged 16-24 and 41% of 45-55).
Conversations across generations
Almost a quarter of those aged 55 and older lack confidence in their knowledge about men’s health, compared to one in six 25-34-year-olds. This reflects a greater hesitancy among the older generations to discuss health topics due to lower confidence or awareness.
Talking about health concerns is key to acting on them and for many men, their family is their main source of support. However, a quarter of men would rather deal with health issues on their own, showing that they feel the need to keep health issues private owing to stigma around the subject.
The figures show that younger generations are slowly becoming more comfortable discussing men’s health issues but there are still hurdles to overcome. Parents or carers of ageing parents should be open about their own mental health as this can lead to conversations about their mental health.
On a societal level, part of the solution may be to make it easier to learn about men’s health issues, with different approaches for different generations. This will create a larger, public conversation so that it’s no longer a taboo topic.
Sexual function
The perception of stigma is especially problematic when it comes to men’s decisions about seeking advice and talking to people about sexual function. One in three men report problems with their sexual function, whether that’s loss of libido (32%), erectile dysfunction (31%) or premature ejaculation (33%). And they said the most common factors behind these were poor mental health (39%) and stresses at work (41%).
However, 62% if men say stigma and harmful stereotypes affect their decisions to seek help, 34% say a fear of being judged and 34% say feeling embarrassed. This is most commonly felt by those aged 25-34, and 35-44.
Men often face these issues alone, creating a vicious circle that worsens their mental health and negatively affects their relationships. In fact one in five men say they would rather end their relationship than talk about their sexual function issues with their partner.
Over a third of men and women feel there’s a need for greater awareness regarding men’s sexual function. Achieving this will take concerted action from the government in it’s plans for a new men’s health strategy, and through public figures leading the way in speaking out about their personal sexual function issues. In fact, 38% of men say this would help to make them comfortable in speaking about their own problems.
Conclusion
Many men are suffering in silence while dealing with their own mental or physical health struggles. The research shows that often they aren’t seeking help because they’re embarrassed or fear showing signs of weakness. And we know that waiting for problems to go away by themselves can often do more harm than good.
The Government’s upcoming Men’s Health Strategy represents a pivotal moment to drive real change. Employers, policymakers and healthcare providers all have a critical role in tackling these challenges.
We need to foster an environment where men feel empowered to speak openly, seek help and prioritise their health without embarrassment and fear of judgement. We know how powerful a conversation can be, especially when it comes to our mental health.
[1] The research was carried out by Censuswide between 30 October 2024 and 04 November 2024 across a nationally representative sample of 8,000 UK adults (aged 16 and over).
