The Real Face of Men’s Health
Ipsos B&A conducted an online survey of 80 GPs in Ireland to gain insights into the management and treatment of men’s health, which formed part of Movember’s recently published report, The Real Face of Men’s Health.
This report dives deeply into the systemic barriers that contribute to poor health outcomes among men.
Among the key findings from our GP survey are;
- 9 out of 10 GPs state they have good understanding of men’s health, but only 1 in 4 (29%) are confident in their knowledge.
- According to GPs, key barriers to addressing men’s health include patients’ reluctance (45%) to discuss sensitive topics and limited time available to doctors (46%).
- Mental health is the fourth most frequent reason for men to visit their general practitioner, after diabetes/cholesterol, blood pressure, cardiovascular health, and ahead of prostate cancer, which ranks fifth. Just under half (48%) of GPs report that male patients frequently seek assistance for mental health concerns.
By capturing GP perspectives, this report sheds light on the barriers and opportunities for supporting men more effectively, particularly as it relates to mental ill-health or suicide:
- GPs cited time constraints and men’s reluctance to discuss sensitive topics – particularly mental health – as major barriers to addressing men’s health.
- GPS cited stigma, social norms around self- reliance, lack of support networks and fear of career impact as key reasons why men were reticent to seek help for their mental health.
- Just 14% of GPs were very confident in working with men experiencing suicidal behaviour while 24% were not that confident.
- The most prominent issues reported in working with males presenting with suicidal behaviour were access to quality mental health services, limited honest communication from male patients, and lack of crisis supports.
By highlighting the factors that contribute to preventable disease and premature death in men, the Real Face of Men’s Health seeks to drive real change – ensuring that men’s health receives the attention it so desperately deserves.
To access the full report, please click here: https://ie.movember.com/movember-institute/the-real-face-of-mens-health-report
For more information, please get in touch with Jack Jones (Research Executive): jack.jones@ipsos.com or Tarik Laher (Director): tarik.laher@ipsos.com
