Two thirds of men are avoiding seeking help with mental health struggles, according to research from Westfield Health.
The data which was collected from more than 2,000 economically active respondents found more than a quarter of men (25.8%) reported a decline in their mental health over the past year, with more than two-fifths (41.4%) stating that these challenges have negatively impacted their productivity at work.
Financial worries topped the list of stressors for men (44.2%), followed by workplace stress (35.6%) and anxiety about the future (32.6%).
Burnout was also predominant, with nearly a quarter (24.2%) of men feeling its impact on their mental health.
Additionally, more than one in 10 (11.3%) were dealing with physical health issues that further strain their wellbeing.
However in spite of these struggles, 66.8% of men have not sought help for their mental health in the past year.
Of those who have, men are more likely to consult their GP (17%) than turn to family or friends (8.4%).
Dave Capper, CEO of Westfield Health, said: “While we welcome the decision to help more people back to work with increased mental health support and NHS funding, we are wary that without a more robust system for rehabilitation and a real commitment from workplaces to prioritise employee health, these new measures could fail to tackle the root cause.
“It must be recognised that employers have a crucial role to play here, by fostering wellbeing-first work environments and offering support that’s tailored to their workers’ health needs.
“Research shows that a wellbeing culture helps people to thrive at work — leading to happier, healthier, and more productive teams.”
Rising costs were found to be severely impacting men’s mental health, with 68.6% worried about the cost of living and over half (50.9%) citing high interest rates as a significant concern.
Looking ahead, nearly 36% of men are worried about a potential recession, and 30.8% fear the NHS may not be there when they need it.
Despite the growing need for support, more than one in 4 (27%) employees reported no access to wellbeing support at work, and where resources are available, they are often underutilised.
Over half of male employees with access to wellbeing programmes have never used them.
Vicky Walker, group director of people at Westfield Health, said: “Men’s health is in crisis, and employers must take proactive steps to address the growing needs of their workforce.
“The data shows that while some support is available, it’s often underutilised or doesn’t fully align with what men value most.
“Clear communication and better alignment of benefits to men’s needs can make a world of difference.
“Offering tailored benefits like private healthcare, health check-ups, and flexible working hours can help employers foster a healthier, more engaged male workforce,” says Walker.
The top 10 benefits men value from employers included:
Access to private healthcare (39.9%)
24/7 GP service (24.2%)
Health check-ups (22.1%)
Access to a gym (18.6%)
Mental health days (18.4%)
Health cash plan (17.6%)
Access to counselling (17.1%)
Mental health first aiders (12.8%)
Flexibility to manage their health (12.5%)
Access to other mental health support (11.7%)
“The cost of inaction—both financial and human—will only increase if we fail to address these issues,” Walker said.
He concluded: “By empowering men to take charge of their health, employers can create a resilient and productive workforce.”
