50 signatures reached
To: The First Minister and the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health (Scottish Government)
SMSA's ‘Silent No More’ Campaign - Driving Forward a Scottish Men’s Health Strategy
The SMSA, working on behalf of our 5,000+ members and in partnership with other men’s health charities and organisations across Scotland, are calling on all political parties and public – men and women - to act now to reduce male health poverty and support our ‘Silent No More’ campaign. With the May elections approaching quickly please ask and write to your candidates about their male health strategies and opinions. Scotland needs a clear, properly funded Men’s Health Strategy that recognises men and boys’ specific needs, tackles health inequalities, and delivers meaningful action to reduce preventable deaths—especially suicide. Post elections this will be something to work with if they have pledged their support.
Without a national strategy, men across Scotland will continue to fall through the cracks. It’s time for Scotland to show leadership, dedicate to equality in health, and invest in a healthier future for our men and boys which impacts on everyone. We call on the Scottish Government and all political parties to commit to developing and funding a dedicated Men’s Health Strategy and Men’s Health Champion for Scotland—and to properly invest in proven, empowered grassroots solutions already supporting men across the country, like the SMSA, without reinventing the wheel. SILENT NO MORE.
Why is this important?
Men in Scotland are facing a silent health crisis. They are significantly more likely to die by suicide, experience social isolation, and suffer poorer health outcomes than women—yet why does Scotland still not have a dedicated Men’s Health Strategy? While the UK Government announced its first ever Men and Boys’ Health Strategy for England in November 2025, and countries like Ireland (since 2009) already have targeted policies in place, the Scottish Government has confirmed there are currently no plans to develop one.
This is all despite clear evidence—including recent Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) research—showing men account for the vast majority of suicide deaths in Scotland. The Scottish Government has recognised that different groups have different health needs, demonstrated by the appointment of a Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health (2021-present) and a Women’s Health Plan (2021-29). Yet men, who face some of the most severe and persistent health inequalities, continue to lack a focused, national strategy to address their specific challenges. Is it because men are still influenced by the ‘Strong and Silent’ type Victorian male ‘worker’ cultural model and suffering in silence is seen as a badge of masculine honour so nobody ‘hears’ about it until it’s too late?
In a recent response, Jenni Minto, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, confirmed “There are no current plans for the Scottish Government to develop a specific strategy focused on men’s health”.
This comes at a crucial time, as Scotland prepares a new Suicide Prevention Action Plan, and as the rest of the UK begins taking coordinated action to improve men’s health outcomes.
This comes at a crucial time, as Scotland prepares a new Suicide Prevention Action Plan, and as the rest of the UK begins taking coordinated action to improve men’s health outcomes.
The Scottish Men's Sheds Association (SMSA), as the national body leading support for male lifestyle health, wellbeing, and prevention through the Men’s Shed movement, has never received direct funding from the Scottish Government’s ring-fenced budget for suicide prevention which increased again to at least £3 million for the 2026–27 financial year. This is despite more than 11 years of proven impact since the first Men’s Shed opened in Scotland, and the SMSA now supporting and developing over 210 Sheds nationwide—engaging 12,000+ men in their communities, reducing isolation, and improving both physical and mental health.
The Scottish Government has stated it wants to explore “new and creative” ways to reach and support men. We welcome this ambition. However, it is deeply concerning that the government has not invested in, from this pot, nor fully utilised the over a decade-long infrastructure, expertise, and trusted community engagement already established through the intergenerational SMSA central hub and the collaborative research done over a four-year period with Glasgow Caledonian University.
How it will be delivered
The SMSA will deliver this petition, and its full record of signatures, directly to the First Minister and the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health. We will also engage MSPs, the media, and our nationwide Men’s Shed network to highlight the urgent need for a dedicated Scottish Men’s Health Strategy and ensure the voices of men across Scotland are heard.
