The document highlights the significant social factors affecting men's health in Australia, emphasizing that males, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, face higher risks of premature death and illness. It outlines the disparities in health outcomes, life expectancy based on socio-economic status, and various determinants influencing men's health behaviors. The Australian Men's Health Forum aims to raise awareness, advocate for policy changes, and promote better health outcomes for males across diverse demographics.

1. By Glen Poole, Development Officer, AMHF
The Social Factors that Shape Men’s
Health

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The peak body for male
health in Australia focusing
on the social issues that
shape men and boys’ health
and wellbeing.
What is the Australian Men’s Health Forum?

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“Those most at risk of premature death and illness include Indigenous
males, males from rural and remote areas; those with blue collar
backgrounds; males with mental illness; war veterans; gay,
transgender and intersex people; males with disabilities; socially
isolated and non-English speaking males.”
Male health in Australia, a call to action (AMHF position paper 2016)
We care about men in all their diversity

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500 people a week
die prematurely,
nearly two thirds
are male
1 in 4 males die
before they reach
65 (and 1 in 7
females)
7 out of 10 young
people who die
each year are
male
8 people a day die
by suicide, six are
men and boys
96% of people
who die at work
are men
73% of people
who die in
transport
accidents are male
4 times more men
under 65 die from
heart disease than
women
100 more men
than women die
from cancer every
week
Indigenous males
die 10 years
younger than Non-
Indigenous males
4 times more
research funding
is given to
women’s health
10 Top Male Health Issues
Notes: Workplace deaths more than 3 a week; transport accidents nearly 1,000 a year.

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What are the social determinants of health?

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WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION CANADA
The social gradient Income and Income Distribution
Early Life Early Childhood Development / Education
Social Exclusion Social Exclusion
Work Employment and Working Conditions
Unemployment Unemployment and Job Security
Social Support Social Safety Network
Food Food Insecurity
Transportation Housing
Addiction Health Services
Stress Gender, Disability, Race, Aboriginal status
What are the social determinants of health?

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How significant are the social determinants of health?

8. ABS 4102.0: Australian Social Trends , Mar 20118
Our health is shaped by history
A boy born in Australia in
2013-2015 can expect to
live 80.4 years on average
33.2 years longer than a
boy born in Australia in the
1880s when the average
male life expectancy was
47.2 years

9. "World Health Statistics 2016: Monitoring health for the SDGs Annex B: tables of health statistics by country, WHO region and globally"9
Our health is shaped by country
Male Life Expectancy:
1st: Switzerland 81.3
2nd: Iceland 81.2
3rd: Australia 80.9
10th: New Zealand 80.0
50th: Algeria 73.8
99th: Egypt 68.8
150th: Rwanda 60.9
183rd: Sierra Leone 50.8

10. OECD Regional Statistics (database) in Regions at a Glance 2016; ABS 3302.0.55.003 - Life Tables for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Australians, 2010-2012; ABS 1370.0 - Measures of Australia's Progress, 2010; AIHW The Health of Australian Males 2017
10
Our health is shaped by region and background
The difference in life expectancy
between the Capital Territory and the
Northern Territory is SIX years.
The difference in life expectancy
between Indigenous and Non-
Indigenous Males is over TEN years.
The life expectancy gap between men
in the highest and lowest
socioeconomic groups is FOUR years.
The life expectancy gap between men
in Major Cities and Very Remote Areas
in TWELVE years.

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What are the social determinants of health?

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Men’s health behaviours and outcomes, are easier to
see….
* 7 in 10 men are overweight and obese
* 1 in 2 men don’t get enough exercise
* 1 in 4 men are lifetime risky drinkers
* 1 in 6 men are smokers
* 1 in 5 men use illicit drugs in past year
* 1 in 2 men have experienced violence
* 1 in 2 men have a chronic disease
* 1 in 2 men have experienced a mental
health problems in their lifetime
*Men account for 2 in 3 premature deaths
*Men account for 54% of the disease
burden

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….than the social factors that shape men’s health
Do gender inequities shape men’s
poorer health outcomes?
Do factors such such as class;
race/ethnicity; immigration status
and sexual orientation impact
males and females in different
ways?
Are men’s poorer health outcomes
shaped by Institutional Inequities?

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….and the Living Conditions that men experience
How does the experience of “being a
man” shape men’s health outcomes?
What role does culture play a role in
shaping men’s health?
How do services (health care,
education, social services) shape
men’s health?
How do the economy and work
environment shape men’s health?

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WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION CANADA
The social gradient Income and Income Distribution
Early Life Early Childhood Development / Education
Social Exclusion Social Exclusion
Work Employment and Working Conditions
Unemployment Unemployment and Job Security
Social Support Social Safety Network
Food Food Insecurity
Transportation Housing
Addiction Health Services
Stress Gender, Disability, Race, Aboriginal status
What are the social determinants of health?

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How significant are the social determinants of health?

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Boys'
Education Fatherhood
Work
Social
Isolation
Access to
services
Some key determinant’s of Australian Men’s Health

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SOCIAL FACTORS
Why are schools less
effective at educating boys?
Why do more women go to
university? What policies can
help close the Gender
Education Gap?
OUTCOMES/IMPACTS
Poorer Education Outcomes
= Poorer Health Behaviours
& Poorer Wealth & Health
LIVING CONDITIONS
How can we make education
environment more boy-
friendly? How do we get
more men in the school
system?
How does boys’ education shape men’s health?

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SOCIAL FACTORS
How does Government
policy shape men and
women’s experience of
parenting? How well does
the family law system
support separated fathers?
OUTCOMES/IMPACTS
Involved Fatherhood = better
health outcomes for boys
(and girls) and for dads
LIVING CONDITIONS
How is men’s experience of
Fatherhood shaped by
culture?
How can schools, the health
sector and other services
promote involved
Fatherhood?
How does fatherhood shape men’s health?

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SOCIAL FACTORS
How does “the system”
shape men’s experience of
work?
OUTCOMES/IMPACTS
Lack of work impacts men’s
health and some types of
work and workplaces also
have a negative impact
men’s health?
LIVING CONDITIONS
How can we reduce the risks
associated with work and the
risks associated with being
out of work?
How does work shape men’s health?

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UNEMPLOYMENT
impacts Men’s Health
more than Women’s Health
EMPLOYMENT
improves Men’s Health
more than Women’s Health
DANGER MEN AT WORK
Men experience more
workplace injuries and
deaths
HEALTHY WORKPLACES
Can be a great vehicle for
promoting men’s health
Why is work a social determinant of men’s health?

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SOCIAL FACTORS
How can “the system”
promote and social
connection and prevent
isolation in at risk men?
OUTCOMES/IMPACTS
Loneliness exacerbates ill
health and shortens life
expectancies.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Australian men endure
serious loneliness for longer
periods than women.
Separated men and older
men are at high risk.
How does social isolation shape men’s health?
Don’t be fooled, loneliness affects men too by Dr Roger Patulny, Senior Lecturer at the University of Wollongong, Australia (The Conversation, July 11, 2013 )

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SOCIAL FACTORS
What are the systemic
changes that could make us
more effective at promoting
men’s health and wellbeing.
OUTCOMES/IMPACTS
Services are less likely
LIVING CONDITIONS
What are the cultural factors
that make us less effective at
helping men and boys? How
can we make all services
more male-friendly>
How does “access to services” shape men’s health?

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•Developing our resources and information
about the social factors that shape men’s
health.
•Raising awareness, knowledge and
understanding of men and boys’ health issues
among politicians, the health sector, the
media and the general public.
•Building our national network of people
concerned about and committed to improving
Some key things AMHF is doing…..

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•Develop your understanding of the key issues
affecting men and boys and the social factors
that shape those issues
•Be an advocate for men and boys in you
organisation, local area and/or state
•Sign up for the AMHF newsletter, read it and
pass it on to others
Some things you can do……

26. Any questions?
Who
What
When
Where
Why
How

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Don’t be a stranger….
Glen Poole
Development Officer
Australian Men’s Health Forum
development@amhf.org.au
www.amhf.org.au