88 die every day prematurely from heart disease, 33 from prostate cancer, 17 from alcohol disease and 14 from suicide.

This paints a grim picture but there are green shoots everywhere. None more so with the growth in employers  better supporting the health of their male staff and male customers too. We have seen a rapid growth in mental and physical health community groups like Men’s Sheds, Talk Clubs, Man v Fat Football and Andy’s Man Clubs. Plus a rapid growth in the last few years in employers operating male staff networks.

So things are up and a great example is the Government’s Call for Evidence on a Men’s Health Strategy. Rather than look at men’s health, condition by condition, sector by sector – a Men’s Health Strategy will look at the overarching health barriers that men face.

Crucially the Government are really keen to hear both from individual men and women, they want to hear from organisations and those in wellbeing roles. The key focus is on prevention and how to encourage more men to seek health. Really importantly, they want to know how to fix the barriers men have in getting support and whether that support is any good or not. Lastly, they are looking at how the health of men for specific conditions can be improved.

So for this Men’s Health Week, I would strongly urge men to check in on their own health, the health of their work colleagues friends and family  - AND also take part in the Call for Evidence.

This is a once in a generation opportunity to shape men’s health  - so men, women, professionals and organisations – please do make sure your voice is heard.

Take part here: Men's Health Strategy for England: call for evidence - GOV.UK