Work Foundation report: Men’s mental health and work: The case for a gendered approach to policy
On 19 November 2018, the Work Foundation published its latest report: Men’s mental health and work: The case for a gendered approach to policy.
Men’s and women’s health differs in a number of ways. These differences are created and reinforced by the type of work that men and women typically do. Men, for example, are more likely to do physically dangerous work. Furthermore, male-dominated sectors, such as construction, have disproportionately high rates of suicide. In many cases, exposure to these risks conspires with men’s apparent reticence to engage with health services.
These inequalities have clear and important implications for government policy.
This paper assesses some of the structural changes over recent decades that have influenced men’s role in the labour market and the implications this has had for their health – and how to address them. Although not all of the issues highlighted are unique to men – nor relevant to all men – for this paper we look explicitly through a ‘male lens’ in order to better understand where there might be a need for specific approaches and support.
This paper is the second in our Gender, sex, health and work series, which explores the issue of health and work through a ‘gendered’ lens. This series focuses on areas where gender and sex have a significant impact on work and/or health outcomes.
For more information, see our background paper and accompanying infographics.
Please feel free to contact the report’s author, Dr James Chandler, for more information.