Men’s mental health and work

The Work Foundation has published its latest report: Men’s mental health and work: The case for a gendered approach to policy.

Men’s and women’s health differs in a number of ways. These differences are created and reinforced by the type of work that men and women typically do. Men, for example, are more likely to do physically dangerous work. Furthermore, male-dominated sectors, such as construction, have disproportionately high rates of suicide. In many cases, exposure to these risks conspires with men’s apparent reticence to engage with health services.

“Men, relative to women, are reluctant to express concerns about their mental health and engage with professional help. They are also significantly more likely to engage in risky healthy behaviours, e.g. alcohol and drug abuse, and are disproportionately affected by suicide.

Furthermore, they are less likely to visit a GP or attend an NHS health check.”

The paper was written by a team at the Work Foundation comprising Dr James Chandler,
Heather Carey, Cicely Dudley, Jenna Kerns and Karen Steadman.