The charter, backed by the Government as part of England's Men's Health Strategy, highlights the disproportionate risk of premature death faced by men. Suicide remains the most common cause of death for men aged 20-34.
A motion presented to Medway's Full Council on Thursday, 15 October, was unanimously approved. The decision underscores the council's commitment to supporting men's mental health. In Medway, the average male life expectancy is 78.7 years, 3.9 years lower than women in the area. Men also represent a higher proportion of deaths under 75, with cancer, respiratory, and circulatory diseases being major contributors to early mortality.
Health outcomes for men in Medway are particularly worse in the most deprived areas, for those with serious mental illness, smokers, and those who are overweight or obese. A significant 10.4-year gap in life expectancy exists between men in the most and least deprived areas (72.7 years versus 83.1 years).
Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, stated: “This unanimous vote and adoption of the charter is an important step for Medway and demonstrates that, together, we will do more to raise awareness of men's mental health and improve life outcomes.” He noted that existing programmes like 'Man vs Fat' and 'Men in Sheds' are already in place, and the council is committed to working with NHS partners to ensure longer, healthier lives for Medway's men.
Amy O’Connor, Movember’s Director for Policy and Advocacy in the UK & Europe, welcomed the decision, saying: “We are delighted that Medway Council is leading the way as the first local authority in England to sign our Men’s Health Charter.” She emphasised the ongoing challenge of men's health despite recent national progress and the importance of local action.
Medway Council will implement several steps to support the charter, including appointing a senior executive member to lead on Men’s Health, collecting sex-disaggregated data on health service usage, and ensuring grant funding supports men's health initiatives. The council will also focus on how ethnicity, disability, sexuality, and economic deprivation shape men's health and access to services, and tailor outreach activities to increase uptake of health checks.
A Local Men's Health Strategy, driven by the Health and Wellbeing Board, will be developed, incorporating feedback from men in Medway and collaborating with local NHS service providers and community partners to achieve systemic change.
