Over the years I’ve written quite a few times about men’s health and some of the challenges that are faced in improving the health of the male population. I’m back on this theme this week as we sit towards the end of Men’s Health Week 2025 which runs from the 9th to the 15th June.
Amongst all the focus on male health there is a group which is even more forgotten about and that is the specific needs of and issues facing older men.
Recent data paints a concerning picture. Life expectancy for men in Scotland stands at 76.8 years, with a stark 13.2-year gap between the most and least deprived areas. Chronic conditions such as obesity, affecting 32% of adults, and cerebrovascular diseases, with incidence rates 32% higher in males than females, further exacerbate health disparities.
Physical activity levels are suboptimal; only 37% of adults aged 75 and over meet the recommended guidelines, with men in this age group slightly more active than their female counterparts but still not engaged in levels of activity which would bring real physical benefits.
Mental health is another pressing issue. Loneliness has been identified as a significant public health problem, with 58% of Scots over 50 experiencing loneliness most or all of the time . This sense of isolation is exacerbated by the fact that nearly 40% of Scottish households are single-person dwellings, the highest rate in the UK. Men in particular are more likely to face periods of loneliness in older age not least when a partner dies.
There is a great deal of appropriate emphasis upon preventative care and support, around interventions which can help address inequalities and enhance wellbeing and health. One area which can undoubtedly benefit from such approaches is male health, and a major strand in that approach are social care services.
However, the current system has been criticised for being fragmented and crisis prone. To better serve older men, social care must evolve in ways which are responsive to the needs of a distinct population and please, please, please the talk of prevention and early intervention must be backed up by an adequacy of resource even if it means realigning existing spend.
We know what works well and perhaps the model with the greatest success is the Men’s Shed movement. Such community-based approaches provide spaces for older men to engage in meaningful activities, fostering social connections and improving mental health. Similarly, the Sporting Memories Network uses sports reminiscence to connect with older men, particularly those living with dementia.
We know on the ground that targeted interventions are needed to combat loneliness among older men. This includes promoting social engagement opportunities and ensuring access to mental health support services. The crippling impact of loneliness will not be addressed by happenstance and a blanket one sized fits all approach – it has to be targeted. It is therefore really disappointing that there has been year on year cuts to the resources that third sector organisations require to keep these approaches and services going. To say nothing of the potential to address male loneliness if we ever allowed ourselves to fund a homecare system that gave time, conversation and space to the care and support of older men. Only with such support would frontline staff and social care organisations manage to be more equipped to understand better issues such as masculinity and cultural norms that may impact men’s health behaviours.
I have looked in vain for a cross policy and whole system Men’s Health strategy in Scotland. This is not to diminish the good work that is underway not least the focus on male suicide but I really do think the time has come for such an approach, not least as there is now a drive from the UK Department of Health and Social Care who launched a 12 week consultation in spring of this year to inform their first ever Men’s Health Strategy.
The reasoning for such an approach is not just the factual data that tells us that 1 in 5 men die before the age of 65 in the UK; that 3 out of 4 suicides are by men or that 37% of men admit to hiding their mental health issues from their partners.
The data is damning and inequalities are only growing and I would argue only a whole system wide cross-cutting, multi-disciplinary approach to men’s health will make real difference – especially if it is rooted in social care.
It would potentially help us to leverage our existing structures (community nursing, care-at-home) to proactively reach older men by offering check-ins, screening, and early support. It would potentially offer us a national approach to the expansion of existing community-based interventions such as Scottish Men’s Sheds, Sporting Memories, walking groups, book clubs and foster the development of new approaches to appeal to emerging generations of men.
A national Strategy would also critically help us to fill the huge knowledge gaps we currently have around male health. It would enhance the collection and public reporting of men’s health outcomes (e.g. life expectancy, mental wellbeing, social isolation) by age, gender, and deprivation.
And lastly but perhaps even more importantly such a Strategy could drive increased national awareness and knowledge. Public campaigns highlighting men’s‑health issues (e.g. heart health, mental wellbeing, cancer screening), with a focus on older men and reaching them via trusted community channels could all become a priority.
So, as we come to the end of Men’s Health Week for another year perhaps some of our political leaders and aspiring parliamentarians could take the lead in helping us to develop a national Men’s Health Strategy?
I leave you with some words from the poet and celebrant Marc Lemezma who beautifully captures the inner struggle many men face – hiding their pain behind pride, and the liberating power of someone simply asking with care. It’s a heartfelt reminder that support can start with a single question and that vulnerability is not weakness but connection.
Remember to ask and listen with care
For the most common of troubles are the hardest to share
They hide deep within us;
They never will show
Yet these are the feelings we need to let go
But we let foolish pride colour our eyes
And run from our burden till there’s nowhere to hide
We give them a home; yet they eat us away
We think they’re the answer; they’re just there to betray
You cannot imagine or begin to dare
How these are the feelings that every man shares
Yet all that it takes is for someone to ask
And the love of a friend can pierce through the mask
So remember to ask, for the silence may break
And may just be the lifeline they needed to take
Donald Macaskill
