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What is the week about?
Men’s Health Week is an international event to raise awareness about men’s physical and mental health, with the aim of giving boys and men access to the information, services and treatment they need to maintain their health. Organisations can take part in this event by raising awareness about issues relating to men’s health and addressing problems or barriers to men’s healthcare.
When does the week take place?
Men’s Health Week 2025 runs from Monday 9th June to Sunday 15th June.
Why was the week started?
There are many reasons why organisations may wish to directly address issues in relation to men and boys’ health. For example, here are a few statistics about their mental health:
- 2 in 5 men admit to regularly feeling low or worried
- 40% of men won’t talk about their mental health
- 40% of men said it would take thoughts of suicide or self-harm to compel them to seek professional help
- Men with mental health problems can earn 42% less money than men without them.
Men’s Health Week is an opportunity for organisations to show that men’s health is an important concern to them, so that male colleagues may be more likely to speak up when they are experiencing low mental health, before the problem becomes more complex. According to the Centre for Mental Health, the total cost of mental ill health to the economy in England in 2022 was £300 billion, so it is important for employers to invest in employee health and well-being.
And in regards to men’s physical health:
- Men are nearly twice as likely as women to die prematurely from diabetes
- Amongst people working full-time, 37% of men had seen their GP in the past 3 months compared to 53% of women
- Men are 67% more likely to die from the common cancers that affect both men and women.
These statistics show that employers can demonstrate to their commitment to men’s health by showing male employees that taking time off for their health is a positive thing and will not impact their career prospects.
Facts you should know
Here are a few quick Men’s Health Week facts to know:
- The Men’s Mental Health Network supported Senator Bob Dole and Congressman Bill Richardson to create Men’s Health Week, to be passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1994.
- The week became an international event during the second World Congress on Men’s Health in 2002, where organisations agreed to recognise the event to raise awareness about preventable mental and physical health problems, and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.
- Last year’s theme focused on talking about prostrate health and encouraging men to share their stories. The 2025 theme is to be announced.
How to celebrate this week in the workplace
There are many ways to commemorate Men’s Health Week at work, including:
- Asking your male colleagues to speak at events to share their experiences with their mental or physical health, if they are comfortable sharing their lived experiences
- Read and share ‘The Ultimate Guide to caring for Men’s Mental Health’ among your colleagues
- Use the bitesize inclusion toolkit to facilitate conversations about men’s health
- Equip your managers with the knowledge to manage colleagues inclusively with Mental Health and Disability training
- Take part in the campaign on social media with the #MensHealthWeek tag and let your Marketing and Communications team know when it is taking place
- Conduct an Equality Impact Assessment to review whether there are any barriers for men when accessing health and well-being resources at work.
Next steps for creating and maintaining inclusive workplace cultures
If your organisation would like support ensuring your workplace culture encourages inclusive conversations about mental health with all your colleagues, please fill in the form below and a friendly member of our team will contact you.