Charlie Bethel giving evidence to the Health & Social Care Committee (5th December 2023)
Charlie Bethel (The Chief Officer of the UK Men’s Sheds Association) recently gave evidence to the Health & Social Care Committee. This inquiry on men’s health explores a range of issues relating to male health outcomes. Life expectancy for men is consistently lower than for women and fell in 2020. This inquiry is an opportunity to consider the factors driving that difference.
The Men’s Health Forum, a registered charity with the aim of improving the health of men and boys in the UK, has highlighted some of the challenges relating to health outcomes amongst men:
- In the UK, one man in five dies before he reaches the age of 65. More than two in five men die before the age of 75
- Three-quarters of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease are amongst men
- Men have a 37% higher risk of dying from cancer and a 67% higher chance of dying from cancers that affect both men and women
- Four in five suicides are by men – suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under 35 and there has been a sharp increase in the rate among men aged 35- 64.
The previously submitted evidence may be viewed here
The video of the oral evidence by Charlie Bethel can be viewed here