Let’s be honest—it’s not always easy to get men to take care of their health. In fact, men would rather do just about anything than go to the doctor. This reluctance to seek care can have real effects on men’s health in the workplace and their ability to be productive and engaged. This blog offers tips for what you can do to make it easier for men in your organization to get the care they need.
Men are 24% less likely than women to have seen a doctor in the past year1, and they’re also more likely to skip preventive care, avoid mental health support, and engage in behaviors that put their health at risk.2 The result? Men die about five years sooner than women, live with more years of poor health, and have higher suicide rates.3
Like women, men have unique physical and mental health needs that deserve attention and support. The key is meeting them where they are, making health care convenient and accessible, and addressing the cultural barriers that keep them from getting the care they need.
What’s behind men’s health care reluctance?
Men’s reluctance to seek health care isn’t just stubbornness—it’s deeply rooted in cultural and social factors:
- The “tough it out” mentality: From childhood, many men are taught to push through pain and keep a stiff upper lip. A young boy falls down and scrapes his knee, and his Dad tells him to “just wipe it off” and everything is “okay.”
- Fear of appearing weak: Especially when it comes to mental health, men worry about being perceived as too vulnerable. Many men struggle in silence out of fear of disappointing those around them and not living up to the standards of what it means to be a man.
- Inconvenience factor: Health care can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and time-consuming.
- Avoidance of hard truths: Nobody wants to hear they need to lose weight or change their lifestyle.
The result? Many men keep kicking the health can down the road, hoping nothing major will stop them in their tracks and rob them of precious moments with family and friends.
How organizations can support men’s health.
Here are some key areas of men’s health where workplaces can make a real impact and tips to make it easy—because that’s half the battle!
Preventive care and screenings.
It’s important for men to receive annual preventive care visits to catch issues like heart disease early. They should also receive age-appropriate screenings for cancer (prostate, colon, skin, lung), high blood pressure, cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes.
Pro-tips:
- Partner with your well-being program to offer on-site preventive screenings and health assessments.
- Work with your health plan to promote convenient telehealth preventive care options.
- Here’s a game-changer: encourage men to schedule preventive care visits at the same time as their partners. After all, preventive care benefits the whole family, not just the individual.
Family-building benefits.
Family-building support isn’t just for women. About 40-50% of infertility cases involve male factors,4 so male fertility support is important, too. Men and families also benefit tremendously from paid parental leave to allow for bonding time with new children. Flexible work arrangements, like remote work, alternate hours, and shortened workweeks help men balance caregiving responsibilities.
Pro-tips:
- Collect testimonials from dads who’ve used parental leave to reduce stigma and encourage uptake.
- Highlight family-building benefits during recruiting, new hire orientation, and annual benefits enrollment.
Mental health support.
Men are significantly less likely to report mental health conditions or seek help. Launch a mental health awareness campaign that uses humor and themes of strength to counteract negative perceptions. Promote your Employee Assistance Program’s (EAP) free counseling sessions, and check to make sure the EAP offers male mental health providers. Offer manager training to help them spot concerns among male employees and teach skills for having a conversation about mental health. Form a men’s health Employee Resource Group (ERG) and offer stress management and resilience training classes. You can explore additional mental health resources in our workplace mental health resource center.
Pro-tips:
- Use QR codes as a discreet way to direct men to mental health resources.
- Appoint male mental health ambassadors, including an executive, to serve as role models.
- Distribute fact sheets that describe where to go for help.
Social connections:
Research shows men don’t turn to their networks enough for social connection or emotional support.5 You can help bridge this gap by offering peer support networks and one-to-one mentorship programs; leveraging workplace wellness champion networks to get men talking to one another; holding information sessions on topics that interest men; hosting informal gatherings during lunch or after work; and sponsoring men’s fitness clubs, walking groups, or sports teams.
Pro-tip:
- Ask senior male leaders to model and encourage social connections on their teams.
Midlife health support.
Men experience midlife health and hormone changes just like women do, but it tends to get less attention. Researchers have found links between low testosterone and conditions like obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.6 Work with health plans to ensure adequate coverage for men’s midlife health issues. Promote lifestyle coaching benefits through your well-being program. Encourage regular exercise, good nutrition, and quality sleep. Offer caregiving support for the sandwich generation.
Pro-tip:
- Raise awareness of men’s unique midlife health needs through ERGs and awareness campaigns.
The bottom line for employers: Why investing in men’s health matters.
Investing in men’s health in the workplace isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart business decision. Aside from lower health care costs, better men’s health outcomes can translate to increased engagement, lower absenteeism, greater productivity and less turnover.
The men in your organization—and their families—will thank you for taking that extra step to ensure they have the support they need to live healthier, longer lives.
Are you ready to take the next step on men’s health? WebMD Health Services is here to support you. We can help you focus on men’s (and women’s!) health, tailor the program based on your population’s specific needs, and devise a well-being strategy that shows you care about men across every facet of their lives. Contact us for more information.
