Movember | Employers urged to help men open up and take charge of their health

As Movember shines a spotlight once again on men’s mental and physical wellbeing, new research is calling on employers to do more to help male employees access support earlier, and more confidently.

According to RedArc, the nurse-led health support service, men are still far less likely than women to seek help for mental health issues. Its latest data shows that 59% of mental health support users are women, compared with just 41% of men. When men do reach out, they typically engage for a shorter period - around three months compared to women’s four - and are 10% less likely to take up external support such as counselling or complementary therapies.

However, outcomes tell a more positive story. RedArc found that when men do engage, they report a 14% greater improvement in scores compared to women. Nurse feedback suggests many men are initially reluctant to try talking therapies but later describe them as transformative.

Christine Husbands, Commercial Consultant at RedArc, said: “Our data reflects that men are less likely to seek help, and more inclined to bring it to an end sooner. However, when they do access support, the results are significant and overwhelmingly positive. ‘Movember’ provides an important opportunity to remind men of the wide range of support available to them, and to highlight the real-life experiences of those who, despite perhaps having initial doubts, have seen dramatic improvements in their mental health.”