Twenty years of campaigning in men’s health has taught us that men and those around them care deeply about men’s health and everyone has a story to tell.
We have many inspiring stories of when men are empowered and supported to be well and healthy—socially, culturally, physically and mentally. But we also have stories of men not knowing their risks and not feeling equipped to act. Accounts of men feeling disempowered, excluded or leaving it too late to speak to a healthcare professional1—or having a poor experience when they do. Every day, we hear from men themselves but also their partners, parents, children, siblings, mates, colleagues, teachers and health workers.
These stories are not ones of men neglecting their health but of gendered pressures2 on men and how this plays out when it comes to seeking and receiving help and how this is amplified for particular groups of men. We must continue to focus on these men.
And so, when painting the picture of men’s health, the faces and stories you will see represented in this report are not men alone but all those around them, those who care for the men in their lives and those who are impacted by their health.
This report outlines the state of men’s health across Australia and makes clear the benefits that would ripple through families, communities and societies if we improved men’s health—including billions in savings by preventing avoidable conditions in men and supporting them to live healthier, longer lives. An investment in men’s health is an investment in the wellbeing and safety of women, families and communities.
Men’s ill-health impacts us all. This report outlines the urgent need for men’s healthcare policy and practice change, and we look forward to working with our policymakers to change the face of men’s health in Australia.