The government is calling on men of all ages to come forward and contribute to England’s first ever men’s health strategy, which aims to tackle the life expectancy gap. In England, men die nearly four years earlier than women on average.

Men are disproportionately affected by a number of health conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type two diabetes. Suicide is the biggest cause of death in men under the age of 50, with three quarters of people lost to suicide in 2023 being men.

The 12-week call for evidence will gather insights from the public, health and social care professionals, academics and employers, allowing professionals to have a holistic picture on the biggest issues facing men from all backgrounds.

The consultation will ask for men’s views on what is working and what more needs to be done to close the life expectancy gap between men and women, and will run from from 24th April 2025 to 17th July 2025.

The call for evidence will seek responses on how the government’s Plan for Change can improve the health and wellbeing of men, though prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and encouraging men to come forward to improve men’s access to the health service.

Health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “Every day, men across England are dying early from preventable causes. Men are hit harder by a range of conditions, while tragically suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50.

“Our Plan for Change means we will tackle these issues head on through a men’s health strategy, and today’s call for evidence is the crucial next step in understanding what works, what doesn’t, and how we can designed services men will actually use. I urge people to come forward and share their views.”