Leading causes of Scottish men's health crisis 'cost £1.73bn every year'
Movember is calling on the Scottish government to deliver a men’s health action plan
The five leading causes of premature mortality for men in Scotland are costing around £1.73 billion every year, according to a new report published by men’s health charity Movember.
Around 90 per cent of this is linked to preventable diseases, it said.
Analysis shows more than 35 men die before their 75th birthday every day in Scotland, while men are 50 per cent more likely than women to die prematurely north of the border.
Cancer remains the single largest cause of premature death among Scottish men, killing 3,783 men under 75 in 2024. A further 3,406 died from cardiovascular disease, including 2,023 deaths from ischaemic heart disease.
Scotland has the lowest male life expectancy of any UK nation, around four years less than for women.
Movember is now calling on the Scottish government to deliver a men’s health action plan,
Ayesha Ahmed, from Movember’s policy team, said: “Men in Scotland are dying too young, too often and from causes that could be prevented. Behind these numbers are fathers, sons, brothers, partners and friends whose lives are being cut short.
“The Scottish government must match the scale of this crisis with the leadership and investment it demands. That means a fully costed men’s health action plan, clear accountability and services designed around how men actually live, communicate and seek support.
“Scottish men cannot wait for another consultation or another generation of avoidable inequality. The time for recognising the problem has passed – we need action.”
Movember said the £1.73 billion includes direct costs to health and public services, alongside the wider consequences of lost work, lost earnings, social care and the burden placed on families and communities.
John Hartson, former Celtic striker and men’s health campaigner, said: “Men’s health in Scotland is an issue that has been ignored by decision makers for too long.
“Brilliant work is already happening across Scotland - in football clubs, workplaces and communities. But too many men are still only getting the support they need when they are seriously ill or at crisis point.
“The importance of health interventions where men are actually convening cannot be understated – and the Scottish Government must commit to properly funding these models, as part of a wider Action Plan on men’s health in Scotland.”
SNP public health minister Maree Todd said: “I welcome this report and am keen to reinforce this government's commitment to addressing the issues it raises, particularly to support prevention and tackle harms associated with drugs and alcohol.
“Work to specifically improve men’s health outcomes includes supporting the development of Men’s Sheds across Scotland for over a decade, as well as supporting the ‘Be the Early Bird’ campaign aimed at the early detection of cancers affecting men, which has reached over two million men so far.
“I recognise the concerns raised about various diseases and issues having a greater impact on men and I am keen the government work with organisations like Movember to improve how services and support are delivered across Scotland.
“However, we believe rather than developing a separate standalone men’s health strategy, the focus must be more immediately on ensuring we work across all health policies to address inequalities and plug any potential gaps in support.
“I intend to engage with Movember on their report to understand where we can work more closely together."
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