Adfam has responded to the Department of Health and Social Care’s Men’s Health Strategy for England call for evidence. This call for evidence will inform the development of a Men’s Health Strategy for England. It sought the views of the public as well as health and social care professionals, academics, employers and stakeholder organisations. It requested ideas and evidence that the government can build upon and discuss further with key interests.
Adfam’s response highlighted the critical yet often overlooked role of families in addressing substance misuse and reducing health inequalities affecting men. It highlighted the gendered pattern in how substance use is experienced within households and how men are more likely to be the individual using drugs or alcohol, while women more often assume caregiving roles. They are the ones most likely to seek support, engage with services, and shoulder the burden of managing the fallout of substance use.
It articulated how this imbalance reflects wider gender dynamics in health-seeking behaviour. Societal expectations and stigma often discourage men from acknowledging problems related to their health, including substance misuse and mental health challenges, thus delaying treatment and increasing the pressure on families, particularly women, to fill the gaps in support.
Download Adfam’s full response to the Men’s Health Strategy call for evidence here.