Suicide is the leading cause of death among men under the age of 50. Unfortunately, men are less likely that women to seek professional help for their mental health and often free pressured by society to man up or stay strong. When asked why they didn’t seek support for mental health. 36% of men didn’t ‘want to be a burden’ and 16% of men reported not wanting to ‘appear weak’. Men's mental health often gets overlooked due to societal stigmas and stereotypes. This campaign aims to challenge those barriers, create safe spaces, and provide resources for men to speak openly, seek help, and thrive. Together, we can change this narrative by fostering understanding and showing men that it’s okay to seek help.
Facts & Stats
- 77% of men polled have suffered with symptoms of common mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress or depression
- 40% of men have never spoken to anyone about their mental health
- 29% of those say they are "too embarrassed" to speak about it, while 20% say there is a "negative stigma" on the issue
- The biggest cause of mental health issues in men’s lives are work (32%), their finances (31%) and their health (23%)
- 40% of men polled said it would take thoughts of suicide or self-harm to compel them to get professional help.
- 35% think they've had a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life.
Support Services
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.
Website: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/
Email: info@andysmanclub.co.uk
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
CALM (Campaigns Against Living Miserably) are a mental health charity that works to prevents suicide. CALM’s primary aim was to reach young men struggling with their mental wellbeing, offering support and helping people find a reason to stay. They provide life-saving services, information and advice to help anyone struggling with life navigate the issue that can make us feel miserable and trusted tool to help people manage their mental health.
Helpline: 0800 58 58 58 (open every day, 5 pm til midnight)
WhatsApp: https://www.thecalmzone.net/whatsapp
ManKind
ManKind provides information, support and signposting services to men suffering from domestic abuse from their current or former wife, partner (including same-sex partner) or husband. They provide confidential helpline is available for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence across the UK as well as their friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues and employers.
Website: https://www.mankind.org.uk/
MANUP
MANUP? Is a charity that advocates for men’s mental heath and aims to break down the stigma around mental health. MANUP? Wants to change the negative connotation associated with the phrase ‘man up’. They aim is to encourage men to open conversations about mental health and to speak to other men about their struggles. MANUP? provides free therapy sessions and annual retreats for men.
Website: https://www.manup.how/
Email: manup@manup.how
Men’s Advice Line
Men’s Advice line is a mental health charity that provides emotional support and guidance for men experiencing domestic violence. They have an information hub to help you find contacts with your local male victim’s domestic abuse service and access refuges/safe houses for male victims. The hub allows you to find a range of services offering specialised support for other areas of need including legal support, housing and homelessness, immigration, mental health and wider.
Website: https://mensadviceline.org.uk/
Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk
Freephone: 0808 8010327
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.
Website: https://www.mensmindsmatter.org/
Email: contact@mensmindsmatter.org
Address: Men’s Minds Matter, Bussey Building, 133 Copeland Road, Copeland Park, Peckham Rye, London, SE15 3SN
Talk Club
Talk Club is a UK male mental health charity helping men to improve their mental health. Talk Club is a behaviour-changing movement aimed at getting men to talk more openly about their thoughts, feelings, worries and day-to-day gripes (and all the positive stuff too!). We want to create as many safe and confidential spaces across the UK where men can meet regularly to talk and listen to each other. They provide a Talk & Listen group, Talk & Exercise group and therapy. They also have an ‘Out of 10’ app that’s allows individual’s to measure and track their mental health.
Website: https://talkclub.org/
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.
Website: https://menssheds.org.uk/
Email: admin@ukmsa.org.uk
Tel: 0300 772 9626
Address: UK Men’s Sheds Association, 49 Station Road, Polegate, East Sussex, BN26 6EA
Men Who Talk
Men Who Talk provide free to access online spaces which provide men and those who support them with an opportunity to talk, socialise and receive support from other men, all whilst being supported by our excellent team of facilitators. Each space is a judgement free, supportive spaces for men to talk openly. They follow a peer-to-peer support model, which means we actively encourage all our group attendees to support one another, instead of relying on professionals.
Website: https://menwhotalk.org/
References
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/men-urged-to-talk-about-mental-health-to-prevent-suicide
https://mentalhealthmidlands.co.uk/articles/1-in-8-men-has-a-common-mental-illness#:~:text=The%20statistics%20mean%20that%201,health%20issues%20and%20offer%20help.
https://dhctalkingtherapies.co.uk/around-1-in-8-men-in-england-have-a-common-mental-health-problem/