This week marks Men's Health Week 2022, a week that aims to raise awareness around the health issues that affect men disproportionately, whilst focusing on encouraging men to become aware of problems they may have or could develop, whilst encouraging them to gain the courage to do something about it.

Some of these statistics regarding men's health are quite alarming. As we sadly know, three out of four suicides are committed by men, 12.5 per cent of men suffer from mental health disorders, and men are nearly three times more likely than women to become alcohol dependent. Men are also more likely to use and die from illegal drugs. All of this and more culminates in the fact that the ultimate indicator of health, our life expectancy, means that men die four years younger than women in the UK.

It's clear that many men find it difficult to open up and talk about their health. We heard earlier today some of the positive work that organisations like Men's Sheds—I'm a trustee of the Abergele Men's Shed—can carry out and we must encourage those to exist so that more men can feel open and confident to talk about the challenges they face. 

In closing, I would urge all Members of the Senedd today to join me in taking the opportunity to mark Men's Health Week, raise awareness of the issues facing men, and also encourage them to do something about it. Diolch yn fawr iawn.