What Crisis? Let’s Talk About Men’s Health
May 16, 2025Posted by:
By Dr Craig Corrigan, Social Value Solutions Manager, PeoplePlus and Social Recruitment Advocacy Group (SRAG) Secretariat.
A few days ago, I spotted an article on LinkedIn that grabbed my attention.
It was on Wes Streeting’s launch of a new Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys - the first government-backed policy unit dedicated to tackling the stark inequalities men face in health, education, and life expectancy.
This shouldn’t be surprising. We’ve known for years that:
- Men are less likely to access physical or mental health services.
- Suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under 50.
- Working-class and ethnic minority men are disproportionately affected.
The unit will gather evidence on what is happening to men and boys right now. It strikes me that the progressive work we are doing with employers at the SRAG can help to push the issue even higher up the social value agenda.
I’ve worked with men and boys across education, wellbeing and social impact for decades. I'm a working dad to both girls and boys. I was the first in my family to go to university. I get that health inequality has long been an issue in the 'really hard' ('too hard'?) basket. I was fortunate to learn first-hand from a leading expert how significant the issue is. I shared a PhD research office with Dr. Alex Blower (check him out, he is a true visionary in this space- Dr Alex Blower's LinkedIn Profile) while he tracked the growing crisis, and we had many conversations that taught me a lot.
The unspoken need in plain sight
For so many of us, these statistics aren’t theoretical, they’re personal. They remind us of mates who are no longer here or colleagues who struggled in silence, their pain only revealed after it's too late to help. Fathers, brothers, sons, and partners who waited too long to speak up.
At SRAG, we talk a lot about barriers to work, inclusion, and opportunity such as criminal records, caring responsibilities, trauma, and systemic disadvantage. But poor health - especially hidden health issues - is often the thread running through all of it.
And for men, it’s rarely just about access. It’s about permission from themselves, in the face of generations of stigma about being ‘weak’ or out of control.
It's about permission for men to prioritise their health in a culture where “crack on” is the default and where the language of self-care perhaps hasn’t been written with men and boys in mind.
So why is this an SRAG issue?
Because employers are in a unique position to break the cycle.
Every day, businesses make choices that affect health - not just through policies and perks, but through leadership, culture, and visibility. When an employer makes space for men to speak up, they’re not just protecting individuals. They’re building trust and rewarding loyalty. In some cases, they are preventing despair and saving lives.
That’s why we’re putting men’s health on the agenda during Men’s Health Week this June, with a dedicated SRAG Lunch and Learn session for members and partners. We’ll talk openly about the impact of health stigma in male-dominated industries. We’ll hear from employers already acting. And we’ll explore how this issue fits into a wider strategy for workplace wellbeing and social value.
Because this isn’t just a “nice to have.” It’s a workforce challenge. And the cost of ignoring it is one we’re already paying.
What I’ve seen, and what I know
In my role at SRAG, I get to work with organisations who want to be part of the solution - even when they don’t know where to start.
Some are trialing peer-led health groups. Others are reviewing how to reach frontline workers. A few are starting simply by listening - running anonymous surveys to ask men what would help.
What happens when it works? Let’s imagine...
A middle-aged warehouse worker talks openly about therapy for the first time because a senior leader did it first.
A younger guy brings his dad to a health screening day - because “it’s not just about me, is it?”
A male-dominated team can report, “We’ve had fewer absences this year. I think it’s because we’re finally talking about stuff.”
What I’d ask you to consider
This isn’t about making men special. Or pretending that other groups don’t need support too. They absolutely do - and SRAG is committed to amplifying a wide range of lived experiences to drive positive change.
But we also believe in looking at what’s in front of us.
If you work in construction, logistics, warehousing, tech, security, utilities, transport - the chances are, what’s in front of you is a large population of men. Men who are less likely to ask for help despite being in trouble and who don’t see or recognise themselves in most health campaigns - or most conversations about inclusion.
Get Involved
If you’re a member of SRAG - or thinking about becoming one - I’d love to invite you to contribute your insights on the health of men and boys and how they too often sink or swim in today's working world.
If you're interested, please drop me a line at [email protected]
Thanks for reading.
May 16, 2025Posted by:
