Talking Men's Health

“A tremendous resource for both practitioners and researchers in the field to better understand men’s needs and improve their delivery of person-centred care.” - Paul Galdas, Professor of Nursing and Men’s Health, University of York, UK “A very clever book that covers a breadth of important issues in relation to men’s health while also providing critical nuance and depth. A must read for anyone with a genuine interest in moving men’s health forward.” - Steve Robertson, Emeritus Professor of Men, Gender and Health, University of Sheffield, UK “A very important book in the growing field of men’s health. The honesty with which the men open up to describe their day-to-day realities gives an insight that all working within the health and social care sector should read and learn from.” - Alan White, Emeritus Professor of Men’s Health, Leeds Becket University, UK "An engaging and accessible handbook to the many intricacies of men's health that demands a place on the shelves of every clinician and academic with an interest in men's health and wellbeing." - Ally Fogg, writer and co-founder of Men and Boys Coalition This book explores male health psychology in relation to chronic health conditions. Using data from men with rheumatic diseases as a starting point, this book draws on the wider literature to focus on how men talk about different aspects of living with long-term health issues. This includes how men discuss the impact of chronic illness on their sense of control and self-reliance, masculine identity, body image, mental health, sex and intimacy, and for those living with a life-limiting condition how they discuss facing their mortality. It also covers how men self-manage and what influences their help-seeking behaviours. Whilst men are often branded as ‘hard to reach’, the author argues that when given permission and provided with the right environment, men will talk about their health. This book takes the stance men are under-served by health services and includes suggestions for developing support services for health and mental health that meet men’s needs and preferences. Focussing on the experiences and support needs of men with long-term conditions, this is an ideal reading for clinicians, healthcare professionals, and practitioners working with men with long-term conditions, as well as early career researchers and students interested in male psychology, men’s health, and gender and society. Caroline Flurey is a chartered psychologist and Associate Professor of Men’s Health and Long-Term Conditions at the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK. She is trustee of the Men & Boys Coalition and member of parliament’s task and finish group for men’s health.