According to the Mental Health Foundation there is significant evidence that generally men are less likely to seek support earlier for stress or poor mental health:

• Three times as many men as women die by suicide
• Men aged 40 to 49 have the highest suicide rates in the UK
• Men report lower levels of life satisfaction than women according to the Government’s national wellbeing survey
• Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women: only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men

Men are also far more likely than women to go missing, sleep rough, become dependent on alcohol and use drugs frequently. Research also suggests that for men, the symptoms of stress, depression or anxiety are more likely to include irritability, sudden anger, increased loss of control, risk-taking and aggression.

The No Wrong Door programme aims to transform community mental health services as part of a national initiative. In Portsmouth, funding has been made available through this programme for the Good Mental Health Coop to set up a men’s wellbeing group. This is planned to start in September, and in August we’re hosting an Open Day for Men’s Wellbeing to bring together information about support available for men in the city, and offer taster activity workshops which reduce stress and improve wellbeing.