www.coventry.gov.uk
Shashi Carter BSc Hons
Senior Health Development Officer

www.coventry.gov.uk
Why men don’t visit their GP

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• Comedy as way to engage with men around male health issues in pub / clubs i.e. outside
‘traditional’ health care settings.
• To provide knowledge in a “male” dominated environment, which encourages men to make informed decisions around healthy lifestyle choices.
• Comedy to raise awareness of sensitive issues, such as suicide and depression, especially in young men and erectile dysfunction.
• To break down resistance / barriers to change, encouraging men to take greater responsibility for their own health and building confidence

Source> MaleHealth Forum 2010
UK Life Expectancy www.coventry.gov.uk

50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Age
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
Source: MalehealthForum 2010 www.coventry.gov.uk
Age-specific mortality rates per 1000 population, all causes, England and Wales, 2007
4.3
6.9
10.7
17.8
28.0
48.8
84.0
162.0
1.0
1.3
1.8
2.6
Males
0.4
0.7
0.8
2.8
4.4
6.8
11.0
18.4
32.8
60.1
144.3
0.5
0.7
1.1
1.8
Females
0.2
0.3
0.3

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• 21% of men die of all causes between the ages of 15-64 years compared to 12% of women
• 42% of men die of all causes before the age of 75 compared to 26% of women
• In some areas and for some communities, male life expectancy is 65 years (or less)
• In Glasgow male life expectancy is 54 years
.
• Men are 60% more likely to develop cancer and are 70% more likely to die from forms of the disease that effect both sexes. Number of new cases of prostate cancer has climbed to over 34,00 a year .
• 75% of people who kill themselves are men – A man takes his own life every 3 hours
.
• Middle-aged men are twice as likely to have diabetes as women – but men are much less likely to seek help when they have a problem
• Men are twice as likely not to know they have diabetes.
MaleHealth Forum 2010

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• Life expectancy for men (and women) in
Coventry just below the average for England
• Men in the most affluent wards are expected to live on average fourteen years longer than those in the least affluent wards
• Cancer death rates for men in Coventry above the average for England
• 28% men in Coventry prevalence to smoking
(24% women and 26% National)
Source: Coventry Profile Coventry City Council

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Source: Male Health Forum 2010

www.coventry.gov.uk
• Alcohol – more likely to drink at dangerous levels
• Diet
• Smoking
• Drug misuse
• Sun exposure
• Dangerous driving
• Sexual health

• Peugeot - Pilot Project providing basic health
MOT – accessed 500+
• Men targeted in work place, community venues, faith organisations, festivals, Gay groups
• Tasked with targeting men from ethnic minority groups in particular Irish and African Caribbean men, as these groups suffer very poor health, do not access services and present with their symptoms late.
• Engaging with these groups very difficult – mistrust, prefer own home remedies, mainly women visit the GP, www.coventry.gov.uk

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• John Ryan’s radio interview highlighted a way forward
- A comedian who had developed a sketch promoting men’s health
• Management supported 2 pilot comedy evenings and health information - Irish and African Caribbean Men
• Partnership - Coventry Irish Society & West Indian
Centre
• Venues: Flannelly Irish Club and West Indian Centre
– captive audience
• MOT - BP, Blood Glucose & Cholesterol tests, weight
, BMI and healthy eating advice, prostate, bowel & testicular cancer information, drugs, alcohol and smoking
• 2 successful evenings – Number of men provided
MOT = 85

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www.coventry.gov.uk
• Comedy & health sessions sustained by the Irish Society – regular comedy nights with Health information
• Stronger relationship with African Caribbean men – 3 further events – prostate awareness week, poetry & health evening and MOT and safe alcohol drinking
• John Ryan commissioned - National Beacon & Men’s Health conferences
• Anecdotal evidence – NHS/Public Health has bought into using comedy as a way of engaging with patients to deliver health messages effectively
• Just as the saying ‘Laughter is the best medicine’ we feel
‘comedy reached the parts where other methods did not’
• Future events – Coventry & Warwickshire Fire Service

• External researchers have evaluated the effectiveness of recent projects; e.g. Health
Impact Assessment approach was used to assess the value of a 6 week Sikh Men’s Health
Project
• Commissioning of a researcher from University of
Warwick to hold focus groups with men living in disadvantaged areas to find out their views and experiences of the current provision of health services with the wider aim of ensuring future services match the aspirations and needs of men in local communities.
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www.coventry.gov.uk
Finally judge for yourself - I would now like to present John Ryan The
Comedian with his own version of Promoting Men’s Health