About GAMH

GAMH’s mission is to create a world where all men and boys have the opportunity to achieve the best possible health and wellbeing wherever they live and whatever their backgrounds.

Far too many men and boys suffer from health and wellbeing problems that can be prevented. Globally, male life expectancy at birth is just 71 years but poor male health is not recognised or tackled by global health organisations or most national governments.

GAMH wants to see:

• Global health organisations and national governments address the health and wellbeing needs of men and boys in all relevant policies
• Men and boys encouraged and supported to take better care of their own health as well as the health of their partners and children
• Health practitioners take greater account of the specific needs of men and boys in service delivery, health promotion and clinical practice
• Other agencies and organisations, such as schools and workplaces, helped to be more aware of their significant impact on the health of men and boys
• Sustained multi-disciplinary research into the health of men and boys
• An approach to health that fully recognises the needs of both sexes in policy, practice and funding and which promotes greater gender equality.

GAMH opposes any activity on men’s health that might adversely affect women’s health, for example by reallocating funding.

GAMH has a distinct contribution to make because:

• It uniquely represents a wide range of men’s health and related organisations each of which has experience of policy development, advocacy, research and service delivery
• It is concerned about a broad and cross-cutting range of men’s health issues (e.g. health literacy, risk-taking behaviours, use of services, etc.)
• Its focus is primarily on public health and the social determinants of health
• It has a strengths-based view of men and boys – this acknowledges men’s unique contribution to all forms of social and human endeavour – and also believes that men should be held accountable for unacceptable behaviours, including gender-based violence.
• It is committed to working in partnership with other organisations, not in competition with them
• It supports an approach to health that takes full account of sex and gender in order to improve the health of both men and women. GAMH does not believe that resources currently allocated to women’s health should be transferred to men’s health.

GAMH is working to:

• Encourage the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international agencies involved in public health to develop research, policies and strategies on men’s health
• Urge individual states and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to implement measures to tackle men’s health problems
• Provide guidance on how to take effective action on men’s health
• Bring together men’s health organisations, and others which share their objectives, in a new global network.

GAMH is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board currently has 10 members:

• Derek Griffith (Center for Men’s Health Equity, Georgetown University, USA) – Chair
• Amon Lukhele (Outreach Scout Foundation, Malawi) – Vice Chair
• Martin Tod (Men’s Health Forum Great Britain) – Treasurer
• Rae Bonney (Australian Men’s Health Forum)
• Doris Bardehle (Men’s Health Foundation/Stiftung Männergesundheit Germany)
• Anthony Brown (Australia)
• TC Carling  (Canadian Men’s Health Foundation)
• Ron Henry (Men’s Health Network USA)
• Michael McKenna (Men’s Health Forum in Ireland)
• Wendy Poage (Prostate Conditions Education Council/Men’s Health Education Council USA)

GAMH’s work is managed by its Director, Peter Baker.

In 2023, GAMH’s priorities are to continue to make the case for national and international policies on men’s health (with a particular focus on cancer and mental health), to develop its global membership base, to secure funding to support its future growth, and to continue to build its profile with global health institutions.

GAMH has adopted an ethical policy that governs its relationships with partner organisations, funders and other stakeholders.

GAMH welcomes the support of organisations and individuals that agree with our values and goals. Information about membership is available here.

GAMH constitution is available here. Its UK charity registration number is: 1183428.