Men's Mental Health
Every area has their own specific organisations to help with mental health support. Here are some for your area.
Please let us know if there are any we've missed by clicking here and we'll add them.
Statistics
Men's mental health has become a major talking point over the last few years. This is because male suicide has been on the increase for a long time now. Reasons for this are many, but the main one is thought to be because men are often made to feel like they have to hide their emotions and just 'get on with it'.
Men, on the whole, are brought up, expected to be tough, not cry, protect all before themselves and be strong no matter what. This expectation can be a difficult one to deal with. Especially when mixed in with what life has to throw at us anyway.
Obviously, every persons mental health is important but women generally tend to be more open about their emotions and just generally stronger emotionally by nature. Society expects women to show and share their feelings frequently but if a man is seen as doing this, the stigma can be seen as him being weak.
A big part of the idea of 'That's Mental Mate' came from the increase in men's mental health issues, including our founder's. Having dealt with sexual abuse, trauma, homelessness and addiction amongst other things, he decided that trying to find help for mental health issues can be a minefield and there's no, one place to go for all your needs. We hope that this site makes that easier, especially for men. Reach out directly if you need someone to talk to and see if we can help direct you to the best local support. Here are some statistics:
- Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under the age of 50 in the UK. (Calm Zone).
- 75% of deaths by suicide are males, and they are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.
- 52% would be concerned about taking time off work, whilst 46% would be embarrassed or ashamed to tell their employer. (Men's Health Forum).
- Only 36% of all NHS referrals for psychological therapies are for men. Men are less likely to seek help for their mental health.
Please let us know of any organisations that we may be missing from your local area by clicking here and we'll be sure to add them.
'Real' men don't talk about it.
Fact: Society says men should be “strong” and not talk about their struggles, but research clearly shows that suicide rates for men are dramatically higher than those for women. Men are also more likely to “cope” with their depression and other disorders through substance abuse.
Men don't experience depression or anxiety.
Fact: While mental disorders appear to be slightly more common in women, men aren’t immune. In 2014, about 1 in 5 women in England experienced a common mental health problem compared to 1 in 8 men. These statistics may be skewed, though, as men often don’t report their experiences.
Talking about suicide makes it more likely to happen.
ButtonFact: It is a misconception that talking about suicide, or asking somebody if they are feeling suicidal, will “put the idea” into their heads. Research shows that talking or asking about suicidal thoughts is actually more likely to save a person’s life.
Men don't experience the 'baby blues'.
Fact: Postpartum depression (also known as postnatal depression) and other postpartum disorders are often associated only with women, occurring in around 1 in 10 new mothers. However, studies show that 1 in 10 men may also experience postpartum depression and anxiety.
Needing help means you're weak.
Fact: Reaching out for help might feel like the hardest thing you have to do. It takes courage to admit you’re struggling when you’re accustomed to hiding your struggles, and everybody, regardless of gender, needs support sometimes. Reaching out also means you’re taking charge of your mental wellbeing, a step that is equally as important as taking care of your physical health.
(All info taken from Mental Health UK. 2024.)
Support
When sportmen and other well known figures come out in support of speaking up about mens mental health, it really hits people hard. One of the best examples of this was when Paddy Pimblett made it a part of his speech after winning his MMA fight in the UFC.
There are plenty of other examples too but this one gave us goose pimples because one of his best friends had committed suicide 36 hours before this fight and he used this moment to highlight the epidemic. Well done Paddy lad!
"People would rather, I know I'd rather my mate cry on my shoulder than go to his funeral next week. So please, let's get rid of this stigma and MEN, START TALKING!"
Team Talk
Our peer-support groups offer a welcoming space for individuals experiencing emotional distress. Whether you want to open up about your mental health journey or simply listen, the choice is yours. Our informal and relaxed gatherings provide you with the freedom to decide.
These are peer-support groups, where individuals like you come together to support one another. While they're not therapy sessions, many participants find therapeutic benefits in sharing their experiences.
Each group is guided by a trained volunteer facilitator or co-facilitators. Their role is to nurture a safe, non-judgmental, and inclusive environment where the group can grow and flourish.
Team Talk is a low level mental health programme which is designed to support local men’s mental wellbeing and runs every Wednesday night at 6pm – 7:30pm at Oakwell in the Indoor Centre.
Team Talk aims to enable men to access and offer peer support, share experiences, tips and coping mechanisms whilst also having the opportunity to socialise and connect.
Specially trained coaches will facilitate social and conversational topics, whilst giving participants the choice of taking part in a number of activities.
The sessions provide men with a safe space to engage and socialise with others whilst having the opportunity to take part in pool, table tennis, table football and more.
Our Team Talk sessions are open to all men and the relaxed informal environment allows people to drop in and out of the sessions, attending when they need it the most.
SHOUT
Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text support service for anyone in the UK who is struggling to cope.
To start a conversation, text the word 'Shout' to 85258. Trained Shout Volunteers are here to listen at any time of day or night and messages won't appear on your phone bill.
If your life is at imminent risk, please call the emergency services on 999.
If you would like to see some National Organisations please click here.
That's Mental Mate!
