The lives of men in our communities

This report finds that men in England are facing a silent health crisis, dying nearly four years earlier than women, while suffering disproportionately higher rates of cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The report highlights severe inequalities, with men in deprived areas living up to 10 years less than their affluent counterparts and facing a 20-year gap in healthy life expectancy. It found socio-economic and behavioural factors, including higher levels of smoking and excessive drinking, as contributory factors. In addition, the report says four out of every five suicides are by men. The Local Government Association is urging the government to implement a men’s health strategy similar to the women’s health strategy of 2022.