One in five men in the UK dies before the age of 65, most often from preventable causes such as heart disease, prostate cancer, lung cancer, bowel cancer and suicide. Yet men’s health continues to receive less attention, research and funding than many other public-health priorities.
This is what the Men’s Health Network calls the Empathy Gap – the lack of care, investment and support for men’s issues across health, education and emotional wellbeing.
Closing that gap matters for everyone. When men are healthier, families, workplaces and communities thrive. Empathy isn’t a zero-sum game; it’s about fairness, visibility and prevention.
Why men keep falling through the cracks
We often blame “stigma” or “masculinity” for men’s silence around health and mental wellbeing. But the roots run deeper. Many services and workplace programmes were never designed with men in mind.
Our Manbassador Programme™ study found that:
- Fear of judgement stops men from disclosing stress or mental-health concerns.
- In male-dominated sectors, vulnerability is still seen as a risk to credibility or safety.
- Generic wellbeing offers – from EAPs to lunchtime workshops – often feel irrelevant.
- Above all, men value practical, action-based support and peer connection over formal counselling.
Workplaces can be part of the solution by offering male-friendly approaches that build trust, camaraderie and conversation before crisis hits.
Understanding gamma bias
Psychologists Dr Martin Seager and Dr John Barry describe Gamma Bias as a subtle but powerful distortion: society tends to amplify female suffering and minimise male suffering.
When men struggle, their pain is often reframed as weakness rather than as a social or health issue deserving empathy and intervention. This bias shapes everything from research funding to how wellbeing policies are designed, influencing whose health receives attention – and whose doesn’t.
Recognising this bias is the first step to designing equitable wellbeing systems.
A turning point for men’s health
After years of advocacy, the UK Government has launched its first-ever Men’s Health Strategy – a long-overdue parallel to the Women’s Health Strategy.
It signals long-awaited recognition that men’s health matters. We hope it delivers:
- Greater investment in prevention and early intervention.
- Integration of mental and physical health services.
- Gender-responsive approaches that meet men where they are – including in workplaces.
Given that most men spend half their waking life at work, employers have a crucial role to play.
From awareness to action at work
Across UK organisations, awareness weeks are rising – yet in many male-heavy workforces there are still more events about menopause than men’s health. This isn’t due to lack of care but lack of confidence and know-how.
That’s why I developed the Manbassador Programme™, the UK’s first structured workplace men’s health initiative. It trains everyday male employees to become trusted peers and connectors who can spot early signs of distress, encourage open conversations and signpost support.
Our Manbassadors use relatable language and real-world activities – from “Where’s Your Head At, Mate?” check-ins to group movement challenges – to make wellbeing visible and practical. The result? Earlier help-seeking, stronger peer networks and healthier workplace cultures.
Bringing empathy back
Men’s Health Month 2025 calls us to Bring Empathy Back – to recognise that men are often fighting battles we don’t see.
Empathy doesn’t mean pity. It means fairness, belonging and care in how we design our systems – ensuring every man, from the factory floor to the boardroom, has access to health education, early intervention and someone he trusts to talk to.
Take the first step
If you lead on wellbeing, HR or health strategy, this Movember is your opportunity to turn awareness into action.
Download: 5 Ways to Engage Men in Wellbeing at Work
Discover practical, evidence-based steps to help your organisation close the empathy gap and build a culture where men’s health thrives.
About the author:
Emily Pearson is the Founder and CEO of the Wellbeing Lead Academy and creator of the Manbassador Programme™, the UK’s first workplace men’s health initiative. With over 25 years’ experience in health and social care, she is recognised as a leading voice in workplace mental health and wellbeing. Through accredited qualifications, strategic consultancy and evidence-based programmes, Emily helps organisations embed sustainable wellbeing strategies and empower leaders to create healthier, more inclusive workplaces. Her work has supported hundreds of wellbeing leads and HR professionals to turn wellbeing from a reactive initiative into a core part of business performance.
You might also like:
