MHF's latest update on Men's Health Week 2013

The MHF will be tackling stigma in men’s mental health and helping men seek help as part of this year's Men's Health Week. 

Men and women experience mental health problems in roughly equal numbers, yet men are much less likely to be diagnosed and treated for it. The consequences can be fatal – the Men’s Health Forum has long highlighted that 3 in 4 suicides are by men and that 73% of people who go missing are men. 

MHF's CEO Martin Tod, said:

“Suicide is the unspoken killer taking the lives of far too many men’s lives. Many men seek solace in drink or isolation. We have to find ways to make it easier for men to talk about their health before it’s too late.”

“Working with local partners, Men’s Health Week will see events take place around the country ensuring that men can talk to someone face to face and online.”

You only live once so talk to someone, talk to us.

The MHF wants to encourage men to take their mental well-being seriously and to seek help before it’s too late. 

The charity is encouraging health professionals and organisations to use Men's Health Week to enable men to talk. Health professionals and organisations in England and Wales are now able to regsiter their interest in participating in the week and to stay in touch with news updates about Men's Health Week.

For health professionals and organisations we say: Enable men to talk.

• In the UK, over 4500 men kill themselves each year. That number is rising. Men are more than three times more likely than women to take their own lives. Suicide is the leading cause of death in men under the age of 35.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.
• Many men are reluctant to talk about their feelings or to seek help. Women are more likely to be treated for a mental health problem; men are more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs.
• Treat men encouragingly when they do attend primary care and try to raise concerns about their mental health. Outreach services might also help.
• Enable men to talk. The Men’s Health Forum runs the manMOT.co.uk services and produces publications.

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