The Power of Place: What a Mosque Can Tell Us About Men’s Health

The best place to talk about men’s health isn’t always a clinic - it’s where men already gather.

“A lot of men feel they can’t voice their health concerns, as it’ll be seen as unmanly.”

This is a sentiment we’ve heard before at Movember, and one that, for some communities, rings especially true. For Muslim men in Manchester, this is certainly the case.

Partnering with the Muslim Council of Britain and the British Islamic Medical Association, Movember was invited by local MP Afzal Khan and the British Muslim Heritage Centre, one of the largest mosques in the country, to meet the men in their community during their weekly communal prayer. Every week, up and down the country (and also the world), men and women gather at mosques for the Friday communal prayer known as Jumu’ah. For many Muslim men, many of whom come from South Asian, Black, or Arab backgrounds, conversations about health are often shaped by both faith and cultural norms as well as gender.

Afzal Khan - Member of Parliament for Manchester Rusholme, UK

Against the backdrop of the UK Government’s Men’s Health Strategy, I had the privilege of speaking to the men in the congregation about their health, wellbeing, and what they hope to see as part of the Strategy. What I heard was powerful. As a British Muslim woman, being part of those conversations felt meaningful. It was a reminder of how powerful our community spaces can be in shaping how we think and talk about health.

The Bigger Picture: What the Data Tells Us

At Movember, we tailor our work not only to men in general, but to distinct men from different backgrounds and experiences. We know there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. This piece focuses on the British Muslim community. But why the focus here?

We know that in the UK, in many instances men face worse health outcomes in comparison to women. But even more stark are the disparities experienced between men from ethnic minorities in comparison to their white male counterparts.

For instance, Black and South Asian men have been found to have higher rates of chronic illnesses including prostate cancer, heart disease and diabetes. We know that minority ethnic groups often face significant health inequalities with social determinants such as income, education and housing, contributing to overall health outcomes. This in turn also negatively impacts the way in which minoritised groups engage with the healthcare system, be it language barriers, cultural taboos or other sensitivities.

Many of the areas with the highest rates of premature male mortality also have large Muslim populations. The premature mortality rate (i.e., death prior to 75yrs) for men in Manchester Gorton for example, is 49.2%, which is higher than the average UK rate (39%) and is 21st highest out of 650 constituencies in England.

A 2024 study by INSTEAD found that Muslims in the UK experienced “a much larger and more prolonged mental health decline compared to non-Muslims” following the COVID-19 pandemic. While non-Muslim populations largely returned to pre-pandemic mental health levels, Muslims continued to report poorer mental health, with a nearly 3-point decline on a 36-point scale, compared to a smaller drop among non-Muslims.

That picture also comes through in people’s experiences. A 2022 article from Hyphen captured real-life accounts from young Muslim men and women facing a mental health crisis in their communities. Research cited from BCBN and the University of East London, found that anxiety, depression and stress are the most common mental health issues among young Muslims. A staggering 63% of respondents said they experienced suicidal thoughts and 70% of those who reported mental health struggles say they have also experienced Islamophobia.

Muslim Men and their Health

The stats only tell one part of the story. To really understand how men think and feel when it comes to their health, you have to meet them in the spaces where they are.

At the British Muslim Heritage Centre, the atmosphere after prayers was lively - a mix of conversation, laughter, and handshakes. Amid the bustle, I listened as men reflected on their health and what it means to look after themselves.

Many recognised the cultural barriers that still exist; the discomfort of talking about illness, the sense that seeking help can be a sign of weakness, or the generational gap in how men see their own wellbeing. Yet, the conversations also revealed something deeper: a strong sense of responsibility connected to their faith.

As one congregant told me:

“In Islam, your body - your health - is an amanah (trust) from God, to look after.”

For many, caring for their health wasn’t just a personal act; it was a spiritual one - part of their duty to their faith, their families, and their communities. One man told me that keeping fit and healthy mattered to him because it meant he could better support the people around him.

Those conversations were a reminder that where men gather matters. It shapes how they see themselves and how they look after each other.

Building a Health System that Listens

For many men, speaking up about health is not easy, and seeking help can still carry cultural stigma. But beyond individual behaviour, we need to we need to make sure our healthcare system is built to invite men in, and that when they do come forward, services are responsive to their cultural backgrounds and lived experiences.

The upcoming Men’s Health Strategy for England offers a real opportunity to do just that. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, but we do need to make sure its fit for purpose. That means investing in the community spaces where men gather and ensuring that all men, including those from minoritised and faith groups, have access to healthcare services that truly serve them.