Men’s Mental Health Week | 9–15 June 2025
Each year, Men’s Mental Health Week provides an important opportunity to shine a light on an issue that is too often hidden in the shadows. While mental health affects everyone, men are statistically less likely to seek help, less likely to open up, and—tragically—more likely to die by suicide.
The Silent Struggle
In many societies, traditional expectations of masculinity encourage men to appear strong, stoic, and self-reliant. Vulnerability is often mistaken for weakness, and emotional expression is seen as something to be suppressed rather than shared. As a result, countless men suffer in silence.
Behind closed doors, they may be battling stress, anxiety, depression, grief, or trauma—without ever letting anyone know.
The Facts We Can’t Ignore
- 1 in 8 men in the UK has a common mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, or OCD.
- Three times as many men die by suicide in the UK compared to women.
- Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women. Only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men.
These figures are not just statistics—they represent sons, fathers, brothers, partners, friends, and colleagues. And they point to a need for cultural change.
What Needs to Change
Improving men’s mental health isn’t just about services—it’s about breaking down the stigma that stops men from seeking help in the first place.
We need to:
- Normalise conversations about mental health in everyday life.
- Challenge outdated stereotypes that equate emotional openness with weakness.
- Create safe spaces where men can talk without judgement.
- Encourage peer support, check-ins, and open dialogue—especially in male-dominated environments like workplaces, sports clubs, and trades.
What You Can Do
You don’t have to be a mental health professional to make a difference. Here are a few things anyone can do this week (and beyond):
- Ask twice. Sometimes “I’m fine” isn’t the full story. Asking again shows you genuinely care.
- Listen without fixing. You don’t need to offer solutions—just being there can help more than you think.
- Share your own experiences. If it feels right, opening up can help others feel less alone.
- Know where to signpost. Organisations like Mind, CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), and Samaritans offer support and resources for men in crisis.
Let’s Talk, Let’s Change
Men’s Mental Health Week isn’t just about raising awareness for a few days each year—it’s a reminder that mental health is everyone’s business, all year round.
Let’s talk. Let’s listen. Let’s support each other.
Because strength isn’t staying silent—it’s speaking up.
Photo by Nik Shuliahin 💛💙 on Unsplash