Who really benefits from the 'man flu' jibes?

Happy new year everyone. Apologies for the lack of posts but yes, I've had 'flu. Was it 'man flu'? I don't think so and I'm sure my girlfriend who also had it - worse than me - would agree.

However, the suspicion remains that men make a lot of fuss about nothing. Do we? Frankly I couldn't care less. What does worry me is that men already visit the doctors less than women and the fear of looking like whinging malingerers might deter them further. Our snap survey on the latest Boots advert suggests that many of you agree - although perhaps not for the same reasons.

Much excitement in many news outlets including the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail - where they call men wimps - about a survey suggesting South Korean men 'overrate' the symptoms of a cold. Maybe but key point may be to be found in the final buried paragraphs. The researchers suggest Korean men might get more colds than women because they tend to be the main bread winners, and hence 'may experience higher levels of work-related strerrors'.

The Mail quotes Dr Olivia Carlton, president of the Society of Occupational Medicine who described the findings were a wake-up call for employers. Dr John Hobson, editor of the scientific journal Occupational Medicine said men with colds 'may be under work-related stress, which is something that an employer or manager may be able to do something about.'

Indeed, conspiracy theorists might suggest the whole 'man flu' business is an employers' ruse to get us all into work.

Delivering Male

This is rarely the happiest time of year, the weather's grim and with Christmas gone there's little to look forward to.

However, I was cheered by the coverage in today's Times on men and depression. It sounds wrong to say that, so I'll explain.

Each of the articles making up the feature, which spreads over several pages, is positive. From Alastair Campbell on how he's managed through his working life, David Baddiel about his top tip to the wise words of Dr Mark Porter. There's a challenge in dealing with depression, individually and as a health professional but with the right approach it can be dealt with.

The Times feature was inspired by the new report from the Forum and our friends at Mind, Delivering Male. The report's heavyweight stuff which, for the first time, sets out guidance on tackling the mental well-being of men and boys. It's the latest in the Men's Health Forum's work on mental health.

Read the report and follow us on twitter.

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