Masculinity, Men's Health and End-of-Life Care Symposium - March 2026

Co-researcher Vlad reflects on his experience attending the ‘Masculinity, Men’s Health and End-of Life Symposium’

“The symposium was an opportunity to learn from researchers about their current findings regarding men's healthcare experiences and the factors that influence them. As well as the researchers' presentations, there were networking and discussion sessions where we could share our thoughts on the findings and discuss what healthcare services do well, what they could improve, and what areas are yet to be discovered and researched.

I found this symposium very useful, as it allowed me to explore new topics. Some of the issues we explored and discussed may remain invisible at different levels, even going unnoticed by those directly affected by healthcare practices and the lack of research to identify inequity and develop approaches to address it. It was important to have the opportunity to come together, share our knowledge, and discuss what we might be missing and what we need to explore.

The part of the event that stood out to me was the part about masculinity and its effects on men and the people around them. It showed that men use masculinity to adapt to society and avoid losing face, as they see non-masculine behaviour as a threat to their social and family status. However, one of the consequences, as shown by one of the studies, is that men refuse to ask for support, including medical support, when they are in need, which may eventually damage themselves and their families.”