Debunking the myths about men’s health

Do men really avoid seeing the doctor? How high is mental health on the priority list? And how proactive are men when it comes to managing their health and well-being?

For Men's Health Week, we asked more than 8,500 adults across Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA, what they think about the state of men’s health. Here's what we found.

• 85% of Aussie men have taken the initiative to speak with a healthcare professional in the last 12 months, and 52% of men will take charge of their health and make a healthcare appointment as soon as they suspect a health issue. 
• A third of Aussie men are likely to prioritise their physical health (33%), but when it comes to mental health, only 22% would prioritise this.
• 1 in 4 men believe that the Australian healthcare system prioritises women’s health over men’s health.

Men really do give a sh*t about their health

Men are stepping up and taking a more proactive role in managing their health, with 85% of Aussie men having taken the initiative to speak with a healthcare professional in the last 12 months. This could include a regular check-up or an appointment to address a specific health concern. Pleasingly, 58% of men also said that they would book a healthcare appointment with no prompting. Those that did require a friendly nudge from a partner/spouse, family member or mate, served as an important reminder that the impact of men’s health goes far beyond just men; impacting families, loved ones, and society as a whole.

But times are definitely changing. Gone are the days when men ignore their health problems or act slowly to seek medical advice, with 52% of men saying they would make a healthcare appointment as soon as they suspected a potential issue. Early intervention steps like this can help prevent lifelong physical and mental illness and support men before they reach crisis point, empowering them to address health issues at an early stage, which can lead to better health outcomes and improved well-being.

It's time for men to focus on their minds

It's great to see men focusing on their physical well-being, but the same can’t quite be said for men’s attitudes toward mental health, with new Movember research showing Aussie men are more likely to prioritise their physical health (33%) more than their mental health (22%). Acting faster with physical health symptoms, such as pain in the body or persistent headaches, than they would for mental health issues like feeling down or more agitated than usual. Interestingly, these symptoms can be precursors to more serious mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

When presented with a range of physical health matters*, on average, 18% of Australian men said they would, on average, wait a month or more to book an appointment with a healthcare practitioner, however, when it comes to mental health, over a quarter (27%) said they would wait a month or more. Worryingly, 22% said they wouldn’t book an appointment for these types of mental health problems at all.

Society says that men should be stoic and unemotional. But guess what? Real men have emotions too. By prioritising mental health, men can break free from outdated stereotypes, embrace their feelings, seek support, and build better emotional resilience. It’s crucial to recognise that mental health plays a vital role in helping men lead healthier lives.

It’s time for gender equality in healthcare

Everyone deserves equal access to quality healthcare, regardless of their gender. Yet 1 in 4 men believe that the Australian healthcare system prioritises women’s health over men’s health. We need to debunk the notion that one gender’s health should take priority over another. Our healthcare system should be inclusive, responsive, and supportive of the unique needs and challenges faced by individuals of all genders. By promoting gendered healthcare, we ensure that everyone receives the attention they deserve. This is important because men face specific health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health challenges, which require tailored support and resources. And this is the same for women, which is why advocating for gender equality in healthcare is so important.

Michelle Terry, Movember’s Chief Executive Officer said, “Movember’s mission has always been to lift the profile of men’s health. To use our collective voices to spark millions of important conversations across the globe and to champion meaningful healthcare systems and policy change.

"It isn't about favouring one gender over another, it's about recognising and addressing the specific health needs of different genders and building a healthier, more inclusive society for all.

"We know that men really do care about their health, because we've worked with thousands of men across the globe over the last 20 years, and we’ve witnessed it first-hand. So, it’s great to see these proactive behaviours reflected in this new research. However, the sad reality is that men’s health remains unnecessarily poor across the globe, with men continuing to die, on average, 4.5 years earlier than women – and for largely preventable reasons. We need to address this.

"The state of men’s health affects half the population directly, but it affects all of us indirectly, as we all have fathers, brothers, sons, partners, and friends that we know and love.”