A New Moment for Men’s Mental Health in England

The UK has launched its first-ever Men’s Health Strategy in England - a 10-year plan to support men’s physical and emotional wellbeing. For many men, especially younger men, this may be the first sign that their struggles are being taken seriously.

As a person centred, emotion focused counsellor working with men’s mental health and young adult therapy, I feel a quiet sense of hope. Not because change happens overnight but because the message is clear:

Your mental health matters. Your struggles are valid. It’s okay to reach out.

What the Strategy Includes

• £3.6 million over three years for suicide prevention projects, focusing on middle-aged men in communities at higher risk.

• Mental health messaging through football via the Premier League’s Together Against Suicide initiative, in partnership with the Samaritans.

• Expansion of mental health teams in schools, aiming to reach almost one million additional pupils by April 2026.

• Training for healthcare professionals, helping them better understand men’s experiences, how men express distress, and the barriers men face when seeking help.

• Workplace health pilots in male-dominated industries, bringing support to where men already spend their time.

• Community-based programmes and co-designed projects with men who have lived experience of crisis or suicidal thoughts.

These commitments show a clear attempt to meet men where they are, whether at school, work or in community spaces and to make mental health support more visible and approachable.

What This Could Mean for Therapy

Many men arrive in therapy carrying the idea that pain should be hidden, that struggling is weakness, or that asking for help is “not for me.”

This strategy could help soften that belief. Simply seeing that men’s mental health is being recognised at a national level can be validating:

You are not alone. Your feelings matter.

From a person-centred perspective, therapy works best when it meets you where you are. Knowing that systems, workplaces and schools are opening doors to support can make stepping into therapy feel less daunting.

A Note to Young Men

If you’re reading this, you might feel pressure to appear “fine” or to manage everything alone. That’s understandable - but you don’t have to carry it by yourself. Therapy is not about having the answers; it’s about having space to explore what you’re experiencing in a safe, accepting environment.

Sometimes therapy begins with just one thought:

I don’t want to keep carrying this alone.

A Gentle Invitation

As a counsellor in Hertfordshire offering men’s therapy and young adult therapy, I aim to provide a calm, client-led space where you are truly heard. You don’t need to have it all figured out - just taking the first step, even a small one, can start a meaningful change.