Men’s Health Week is a timely reminder of a quiet crisis across the globe: men are still facing serious health challenges that often go unspoken, undiagnosed, and untreated.
Too often, the conversation around men’s health happens only after a crisis hits. But the reality is, men die an average of 7 years earlier than women worldwide, and many of those early deaths are preventable. Men are also 50% less likely than women to seek medical attention in general, highlighting a significant gap in preventive care. In the UK, suicide remains the leading cause of death for men below 50 years old, a devastating statistic that underscores the need for urgent cultural and systemic change.
Why Do Men Avoid the Doctor?
There is a growing body of research on the fact that men tend to delay or avoid medical care, even when they know something’s wrong. In one US survey conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, 65% of men said they avoid seeking medical attention for as long as possible. They cite reasons such as believing it will get better on its own, being busy, and avoiding feelings of weakness or examinations that may feel embarrassing.
So why does this pattern persist? In large part, it’s cultural. In my view, it’s not that men don’t care about their health. It’s that many were never shown how to talk about it, or when to ask for help, with the false perception that opening up about struggles somehow impacts their masculinity.
At ICR Healthcare, we’re proud to support clients who are pushing boundaries in care, innovation, and health equity. But we also believe in the quieter work of changing the narrative, breaking stigma, encouraging openness, and helping people feel seen and supported. For healthcare companies developing innovations in men’s health, these communication barriers present unique challenges. How do you reach an audience that historically avoids healthcare conversations? We work with clients to develop messaging strategies that acknowledge these cultural sensitivities while building trust and encouraging engagement across diverse male demographics worldwide.
The Health Concerns That Go Unspoken
We need to talk more openly about the issues men face, especially the ones that don’t always show visible symptoms.
- Mental health is one of the biggest blind spots. Anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts affect countless men, but stigma and silence keep many from seeking help.
- Prostate cancer—the most common cancer in the UK—and testicular cancer often go undetected until later stages, largely due to missed or delayed screenings, lack of infrastructure and national screening programs, and in some cases embarrassment or reluctance to see a doctor.
- Heart disease remains one of the top killers. It is the leading cause of death among men in the US, and it can progress quietly until it’s too late to intervene.
The common thread here is silence, and that cost can be devastating. But the good news is, change is possible. Even one honest conversation can lead to early detection, treatment, or support that changes the outcome entirely.
My Dad sadly passed away in 2018 after a 13-year battle with advanced prostate cancer. The reason he ended up getting diagnosed was because he was talking to a friend who suggested that ‘a man of my Dad’s age should speak to his doctor and get checked for any potential prostate issues’. He heeded this advice and was diagnosed with prostate cancer and although it had progressed, it had not progressed as much as it would have done had he not had that conversation with his friend. He had no symptoms to prompt a visit to a doctor and a simple conversation meant that our family was given an extra 13 years with him. This to me emphasizes the importance of being open and talking to others – family, friends, doctors, whoever you feel comfortable discussing more sensitive issues with. In my Dad’s case it didn’t save his life, but it did give us precious extra time with him.
Stories like these are more common than we think, but they’re too often untold. That’s why sharing them, especially during Men’s Health Week, matters.
And on a broader level, we’re starting to see momentum. The UK’s newly announced Men’s Health Strategy—developed in partnership with Movember—acknowledges a much-needed shift toward acknowledging and addressing men’s health disparities at the policy level. It’s an encouraging step that reflects a global call to action.
What Needs to Change
We won’t fix this overnight, but we can take meaningful steps at home, at work, and in our communities.
- Normalize talking about health, not just with doctors, but with friends and family.
- Encourage routine checkups, even when nothing feels “wrong.”
- Create space for men to be honest, without judgment or shame.
A Call to Action
This Men’s Health Week, one simple thing we can all do is check in with someone – a friend, a loved one, or yourself. Because sometimes one conversation really can change everything.
Helpful Resources for Men’s Health:
