Third of men ‘suffering in silence’ over their health

Almost one in three men have never had a meaningful conversation about their health with a male relative, a poll has found.

Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, said it showed too many were “suffering in silence” by being afraid to even discuss matters of life and death with those closest to them.

The survey, commissioned by Bupa, found there was also a generational gap over the issue, with young men far more likely than older ones to feel comfortable about sharing health concerns.

The poll of 8,000 adults found that 30 per cent of men had never engaged in a serious conversation about health with a brother, father or grandfather.

More than half of the male respondents also said a lack of dialogue between generations contributed to a lack of understanding about men’s health problems, delaying the detection and treatment of diseases.

The findings follow a government commitment to publish a men’s health strategy after Mr Streeting warned that a “crisis in masculinity” was costing lives.

The poll also found one in three men felt too embarrassed to go to the doctor about a mental health problem.

‘More needs to be done’

The Health Secretary told The Telegraph: “Too many men are suffering in silence. The fact that so many are reluctant to talk about health with their dads and brothers shows how big a part stigma plays.

“It’s tragic that in modern Britain, suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 50 – and when, as this study suggests, a third of men feel embarrassed to go to their doctor with mental health concerns, we know more needs to be done.”

He added: “I am committed to ending the unjust health inequalities in our nation, and that includes the specific problems facing men and boys. We will tackle these problems head-on, with government, the NHS, campaigners, and families all playing their part.

“We’re working on England’s first ever Men’s Health Strategy, and I encourage men to get involved and have their say.”

The Bupa Wellbeing Index report found that men below the age of 34 were far more likely than those aged over 55 to have such conversations.

Overall, 23 per cent of under 34s said they often talked about health issues with male family members compared to just 5 per cent of over 55s.

‘It’s OK to talk’

Half of the men quizzed said they were grappling with mental health challenges or had done so in the past. A lack of self-confidence, traumatic life events, unhappiness in their job and relationship problems were among the main factors cited.

More than one-third said they had hidden such problems from their partner, while a quarter said a relationship had broken down because of their mental health issues.

However, the report also found men were more likely to open up about their mental health as they got older.

While half of men aged between 25 and 54 found it difficult to have such conversations, the figure dropped to one-third among those aged 55 and over.

Carlos Jaureguizar, chief executive of Bupa Global, India and UK, said: “Our new report shows social stigmas continue to exist with men’s health, stalling men across all generations from sharing their struggles with loved ones and seeking support, through fear or weakness or failure.

“We know that open conversations lead to better physical and mental health outcomes.”

He added: “It’s time to move away from the mindset of needing to ‘man up’, and instead that it’s OK to talk and seek help. The earlier these interventions, the sooner there can be [a] positive impact on mental and physical health.”

The research also found men often did not know where to turn for help.

Fewer than half of men who reported struggling with their mental health said they had sought medical advice, and less than one in three had confided in their partner, family or friends.

Dr Naveen Puri, medical director at Bupa UK, said: “We often find that men avoid talking about their emotions and feelings, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling with their mental health, and sadly around three out of every four people who die by suicide are men.

“It’s important we encourage and support men to be more open about their mental wellbeing and to seek the support they need.”