Beyond the gender debate: The case for investing in men’s health

Written by Rodney Hansen 

Australia has made significant progress in women’s health, but growing evidence suggests men’s health challenges continue to receive comparatively little attention. With men accounting for most suicide deaths and experiencing higher rates of preventable illness, is it time for a more balanced national health conversation? 

Targeted investments in endometriosis, reproductive health, menopause care and maternal services have helped address long-standing gaps in research, treatment and support. These initiatives have improved lives and corrected areas that had been overlooked. 

Yet as funding and public awareness around women’s health continue to grow, an increasingly important question is emerging from health advocates, researchers and community organisations: 

Has men’s health received the same level of attention? 

Recent analysis by the Australian Men’s Health Forum (AMHF) has reignited that debate, estimating that between the 2022-23 and 2025-26 Federal Budgets, approximately $1.35 billion was allocated to targeted women’s health initiatives, compared with around $22.5 million directed specifically to men’s health programs. The AMHF argues that while funding for women’s health addresses important and legitimate needs, the disparity raises questions about whether men’s health challenges are receiving a proportionate policy response.  

The figures are not presented as an argument against women’s health funding, rather inviting discussion about whether investment in men’s health reflects the scale of the issues affecting Australian men today. 

A silent health crisis Despite advances in medicine and increases in life expectancy, Australian men continue to experience poorer health outcomes across a range of key indicators. 

Men die younger than women on average and are more likely to die from preventable causes. Health advocates estimate that around 50 Australian men die every day before the age of 75 from causes that may have been prevented through earlier intervention, treatment or lifestyle changes. 

Most concerning is Australia’s suicide crisis. Men account for approximately three-quarters of all suicide deaths nationally remaining one of the leading causes of death among young and middle-aged men. 

Beyond mental health, men experience higher rates of workplace injuries, substance misuse, risk-taking behaviours and a number of chronic diseases. Studies also show that men are less likely to seek medical assistance early, attend routine health checks or engage with preventive healthcare services. The Australian Government’s National Men’s Health Strategy identify this as a major challenge and recognises the need for approaches specifically designed to better engage men and boys in healthcare.  

These figures paint a troubling picture. Men’s health is not a niche issue affecting a small segment of the population. It is a significant public health challenge with profound social, economic and community consequences. 

What the experts say 

Leading men’s health experts argue that improving outcomes requires more than simply encouraging men to seek help. 

Professor Simon Rice, Global Director of the Movember Institute of Men's Health and one of Australia's leading researchers in men's mental health, highlights how traditional expectations around masculinity, self-reliance and stoicism can discourage men from seeking support until problems become severe.  

According to Professor Rice’s research, effective health strategies must recognise the realities of how men engage with healthcare and create pathways that meet men where they are, rather than assuming traditional approaches will be equally effective across all groups.  

Researchers commissioned by the federal government to examine men’s access to healthcare reached similar conclusions finding that many men face practical, social and psychological barriers when accessing health services.  

Australian Men’s Health Forum representatives have also argued that men’s health should not be viewed solely through the lens of individual responsibility. They contend that sustained policy investment is needed to address the structural and social factors contributing to men’s poorer health outcomes.  

Glen Poole, former CEO of the Australian Men’s Health Forum and founder of the Stop Male Suicide initiative, has consistently highlighted Australia’s male suicide rate as one of the nation’s most pressing health challenges. He argues that prevention strategies are most effective when they are specifically designed to engage men through workplaces, sporting clubs and community settings where they naturally connect and communicate.  

Progress - but is it enough? 

To be fair, Australia is not ignoring men’s health altogether. 

The National Men’s Health Strategy 2020-2030 provides a dedicated framework aimed at improving health outcomes for Australian men and boys recognising that men experience higher rates of premature death and preventable illness and often require different approaches to engagement, support and treatment.  

More recently, the federal government announced a $32 million men’s health package supporting mental health programs, GP engagement initiatives, Men’s Sheds, Movember programs and suicide prevention research. 

These commitments have been broadly welcomed by the sector. 

However, many advocates argue that while the investments are positive, they remain relatively modest compared with both the scale of men’s health challenges and the level of targeted funding directed elsewhere in the health system. The AMHF has described the current level of funding as insufficient if Australia is serious about reducing preventable deaths among men and boys.  

Lessons from overseas 

Australia is not alone in confronting these issues! 

Ireland is often cited as a leader in men’s health policy, becoming the first country to introduce a dedicated National Men’s Health Policy. Successive action plans have focused on reducing rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease and suicide while promoting greater social connection and healthier lifestyles among men. 

Canada has also begun developing its first national Men and Boys’ Health Strategy, recognising that poorer health outcomes among men are influenced by a complex combination of social, behavioural and cultural factors that require targeted policy responses. 

These international examples reflect a growing recognition that men’s health deserves dedicated, evidence-based attention. 

The challenge for Australia may not be identifying the problem but deciding how best to respond. 

The power of connection 

One area where this approach is already showing results is the men’s shed movement. 

The Australian Men’s Shed Association often says that "men don't talk face to face, they talk shoulder to shoulder". 

Those simple words capture what happens in sheds across the country every day. 

Conversations emerge naturally while men work on projects, repair equipment, share skills, solve problems or simply enjoy a cup of tea together. What may appear to be a workshop from the outside is often something much more important: a space for friendship, belonging and informal support. 

At a time when loneliness and social isolation are increasingly linked to poor physical and mental health, community-based programs such as men’s sheds provide an effective way to engage men who may never seek traditional support services. 

Experts increasingly recognise social connection as a critical protective factor for both physical and mental wellbeing. Programs that foster purpose, community participation and peer support are becoming an essential element of modern men’s health strategies.  

Not men versus women 

Perhaps the most important point in this discussion is that it should never become a contest between men and women. 

Women’s health initiatives were created to address genuine and longstanding inequities in healthcare, research and treatment. Those investments have delivered tangible benefits through better diagnosis, improved services and greater public awareness. 

Acknowledging these successes should not prevent policymakers from recognising that men continue to experience poorer outcomes across many major health indicators. 

Supporting men’s health does not require reducing support for women. 

The principle is the same: identify areas of disadvantage, examine the evidence and invest in targeted solutions. 

Public health works best when it responds to need, regardless of who is affected. 

A conversation worth having 

Campaigns such as Men's Health Week and Movember have helped bring greater attention to issues affecting Australian men. Yet awareness alone is unlikely to close the gap. 

As Professor Simon Rice and other health researchers have noted, many men continue to seek help only after health issues have become more serious, making prevention and early intervention critical priorities.  

If Australia is serious about reducing suicide rates, preventing chronic disease, improving life expectancy and building stronger communities, men’s health may need a more prominent place in the national conversation. 

The question is not whether women deserve support. They clearly do. 

The question is whether men, who continue to experience disproportionately high rates of preventable death, suicide and chronic illness, should receive a level of targeted attention that reflects those realities. 

For many Australians, that seems like a conversation worth having. 

A commitment to improving men’s health is not a challenge to women’s health. It is a recognition that every Australian, regardless of gender, deserves the opportunity to live a longer, healthier life.