Why Men’s Mental Health Needs Urgent Action
I never want to receive another call like the one that told me terrible news about a close friend.
It was shocking, just a few days before their birthday, they were so young, only in their 30s. It’s simply a tragedy to lose people like this. Yet it happens far too often.
Men’s mental health is vitally important. The latest statistics continue to show that men are underserved by systems not geared to prevention, are slower to access mental health support, and die by suicide more often.
Men consistently account for about three-quarters of all suicides. In younger men, suicide makes up a higher proportion of all deaths than in older age groups, with suicide being the leading cause of death among both men and women aged 20 to 34 in England and Wales.
Yet only one in three referrals for NHS talking therapies are for men, and while men are not good at reaching out for help, services often fail them too.
Financial pressures, unemployment, workplace burnout and redundancy can contribute, as can relationship breakdown and family disputes. Men, however, are statistically less likely to seek help or engage with mental health services.
I am pleased to see that Male Suicide has been included as an important part of the Men’s Health Strategy, ensuring male-friendly pathways and early intervention to stop men dying before their time.
Last weekend, I led a walk in our local Belfairs Wood to highlight men’s mental health, joined by members of the men’s mental health support charity Andy’s Man Club and others.
Many different walk and talk events, were held around the country organised by Labour MP's who are members of the Labour Men and Boys group to highlight the issue.
We walked a distance of 4.5 kilometers to highlight the 4.5 year gap in life expectancy between men and women, using the event as an opportunity to encourage conversation and positive action around men’s health.
Even though some progress has been made in encouraging men to recognise their feelings and open up, more work is still needed.
We must address the tragic impact of suicide, as well as other issues, such as higher rates of preventable illnesses among men and their tendency to delay engagement with health services.
The government’s Men’s Health Strategy is a once in a generation opportunity to address the crisis in health outcomes for men. Which is why I am feeding into that process.
I back the calls for a bold, funded and ambitious Strategy — with ring-fenced investment, clear accountability and a detailed Action Plan, to address health-inequality gaps.
As chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Male Suicide and Mental Health I want men to open up more and I am campaigning to improve men’s health in the UK and campaigning on the urgent need for action.
To deliver meaningful change we must prioritise equity, empowerment and early intervention. For a more inclusive and effective mental health system we need targeted strategies for men’s mental health and community-based support. Services need to be more attuned to gender-specific needs, such as addressing male suicide risk, trauma, or reluctance to seek help.
We must get men engaged with their physical and mental health and make sure that no family has to go through the tragedy of losing a loved one.
David Edmund Burton-Sampson is a British Labour politician who has served as Member of Parliament for Southend West and Leigh since 2024 and chairs the Male Suicide and Mental Health APPG.
