This content is drawn from the campaign ran by the Student Voice team on Men's Mental Health – check out the link for more detailed information on the campaign.
Why it's important
Men’s mental health is a topic we are starting to talk about more, but unfortunately, men are still less likely to feel comfortable reaching out for help or seeking support, compared to women. There is an invisible, societal pressure on men and boys to maintain a strong image, supress emotions and avoid expressing natural human feelings like sadness, anxiety and fear.
Yet, men account for 75% of all suicides in the UK, and signs of depression and worsening mental health in men can often look different to the pattern we are familiar with. It’s important to be familiar with these signs and know that there are specific support services for men’s mental wellbeing, listed below.
It’s vital to reach out for support, and be honest with yourself about how you’re feeling. At the end of the day, you’re human and we all have imperfect feelings!
How depression shows up in men
Some signs of depression can be more common in men such as feelings of anger, irritability, stress and excessive drinking. It is also common and almost inevitable to find ourselves stuck thinking about the things we’ve lost and the person we used to be, going through a cycle of depression and inertia.
It’s really important to take these signs seriously, and not brush them off, thinking they’ll resolve on their own. Take it as a sign to reach out for support, because it’s so hard to treat depression and mental health alone.
Common signs to look out for:
Falling out of normal activities and routine
Becoming irritated more easily, being short-tempered, agitated, or restless
Drinking alcohol more, taking life-threatening risks, or self-medicating
Sleeping badly or over-sleeping
An overly active or inactive mind, with negative thoughts and rumination
Loss of appetite or overeating
Difficulty concentrating and drop in productivity
Lack of interest in sex
Depression is treatable, and there’s strong evidence that specific therapies and medications can help you feel like yourself again. Reach out for support via your GP and check out the men’s mental health groups below to speak with someone in a safe, private and understanding space.
Specialised Support Services
There are various support services for men across the UK and London. We've provided a variety of organisations below - click on their links to find out more about each service.
Talking Groups
There are lots of in-person and online talking groups where you can sit down with other men who are also struggling with their mental health. They are a space for open conversations about how you feel, with others who are in similar situations and understand your perspective. Alongside the talking groups, there are often additional provisions, such as free therapy sessions and annual retreats.
MANUP
MANUP Is a charity that advocates for men’s mental health to break down the stigma and change the negative connotation associated with the phrase ‘man up’. Their aim is to encourage men to have open conversations about their mental health and to speak to other men about their struggles. As part of this, they provide free therapy sessions and annual retreats for men.
Online: MANUP Website
Email: manup@manup.how
Talk Club
Talk Club is a charity using behaviour-changing tools to help men to talk more openly about their thoughts, feelings, and day-to-day gripes (and all the positive stuff too!). They have safe and confidential spaces across the UK for men to meet regularly, to talk and listen to each other - such as a Talk & Listen group, Talk & Exercise group and therapy, as well as an ‘Out of 10’ app where you can log and track your mental health.
Online: Talk Club Website
Email: hello@talkclub.org
The UK Men’s Sheds Association
Men’s Shed is a men’s health charity that encourages people to come together to make, repair and repurpose, supporting projects in their local communities. This helps to improve wellbeing, reduce loneliness and combats social isolation.
Online: Men's Shed Website
Email: admin@ukmsa.org.uk
Phone: 0300 772 9626
Men Who Talk
Men Who Talk provide free online spaces with an opportunity to talk, socialise and receive support from other men, with support by a team of excellent facilitators – keeping it judgement free and supportive. They follow a peer-to-peer support model, which means they actively encourage all our group attendees to support one another, instead of relying on professionals.
Online: Men Who Talk Website
Abuse in Relationships
Often, when we talk about domestic or relationship abuse, we automatically think of women as the victims. While statistics show that women are more frequently affected, it’s important to recognise that men can also be victims of abuse. This issue is highly stigmatised and often overlooked, but it’s important to be aware of the signs of abuse and to know that there are specialised support services (listed below) available for men experiencing abuse in their relationships.
Remember, abuse is not always physical – it includes financial control, coercion and emotional abuse.
ManKind
ManKind provides information, support and signposting to those suffering from domestic abuse from their current or former wife, partner (including same-sex partner) or husband. They have a confidential helpline for victims living across the UK as well as their friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues and employers.
Online: ManKind Website
Men’s Advice Line
Men’s Advice line is a charity providing emotional support and guidance for those experiencing domestic violence, with an information hub to support access to local domestic abuse services and access safe houses. They also support individuals with specialised services such as legal support, housing and homelessness, immigration, mental health and wider.
Online: Men's Advice Line Website
Phone: 0808 8010327
Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk
Suicide
It’s a heavy topic that we often feel uncomfortable discussing, but it’s something many of us have thought about at some point in our lives. One in four men have considered suicide, and it is one of the leading causes of death for men under 35. This is incredibly sad, but there are support services specifically designed to help men experiencing suicidal ideation. Take a look below for their details.
AndysManClub
AndysManClub are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the UK and online. Their aim is to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health.
Online: AndysManClub
Email: info@andysmanclub.co.uk
Men’s Minds Matter
Men’s Minds Matters develop psychological interventions for people in suicidal crisis. They provide support, advice and resources to men in need of mental health support.
Online: Men's Mind Matter Website
Email: contact@mensmindsmatter.org
Location: Bussey Building, 133 Copeland Road, Copeland Park, Peckham Rye, London, SE15 3SN
If you would like to talk to someone about the organisations listed on this page, and figure out which is most suitable for you – reach out to us at the Advice Service and we’re happy to talk.