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In the UK and Ireland men are three to four times more likely to die by suicide than women. Research also tells us that men who are less well-off and living in the most deprived areas are up to 10 times more likely to die by suicide than more well-off men from affluent areas .Middle-aged men in the UK and Ireland also experience higher suicide rates than other groups, a fact that has persisted for decades. The Samaritans carried out in-depth ethnographic interviews with 16 less well-off middle aged men across the UK and Ireland to find out the challenges they faced and the events which lead them to crisis point. The study explored what these men said worked for them when they came into contact with with support services. This is the first of two connected reports. The second report, due to be released later in 2020, will set out recommendations of how services can effectively engage and support men earlier in their lives, before they reach crisis

The Men's Health Forum is a charity supporting men's health in England, Wales and Scotland. Their aim is that men and boys - particularly those in the most disadvantaged areas and communities - will have the information, services and treatments they need to live healthier, longer and more fulfilling lives.

With increasing awareness of the importance of good mental health worldwide, attention has focused on the need to overcome the negative perceptions and stigma historically attached to mental health issues. One group that this difficulty has been particularly visible for is men; it is well-established that significantly fewer men are diagnosed with or treated for mental health disorders compared to women, with suicide rates being three times higher in some countries in men than women. Why this crisis in men’s mental health exists is a question with complex answers. It requires a better understanding of how men interact with those around them, why they do (or don’t) access support, as well as other social and cultural factors that influence their health seeking behaviours. Much research has focused on the concept of “masculinity” and the need to question its impact on capacity for emotional communication, service engagement and help-seeking behaviour. Watch the recording of the World Health Organization (WHO) seminar, which took place in Copenhagen, on this complex topic.

Surveys show that men with ‘macho’ attitudes are more likely to have mental health problems. Jim Pollard argues that reducing the alarming male suicide rates requires a new language as well as new services.

Active surveillance (AS) is an option in the management of men with low-stage, low-risk prostate cancer. These patients, who often require prolonged follow-up, can put a strain on outpatient resources. Nurses are ideally placed to develop advanced roles to help meet this increased demand—a model Martin et al. have utilised since 2014. The authors set about to comprehensively evaluate their nurse-led AS (NLAS) programme. The study found that nurse-led active surveillance is safe and effective. Patients and stakeholders alike held positive views of the programme.