Tough To Talk was privileged to sponsor the Second National Advancing Men's Mental Health in the Workplace Conference 2024, an event that underscored the urgent challenges facing men's mental health.
The conference brought together some of the most prominent voices in the field, including Marina O'Brien, Mark Brooks OBE, Carole Spiers, Lourdes Colclough, Tate Smith, Mark Rowland, Paula Chappell, Benjamin May, Sebastian Barnes, Michael Beck, Mark Naylor, and Lucas Whitehead.
These thought leaders spoke candidly about the worsening state of men's mental health and the steps needed to address it.
A Crisis in Men's Mental Health
The discussions highlighted sobering trends that demand immediate attention. Suicide rates among men have reached their highest since 1999, and while services to support men have expanded, far too many are left underutilized.
Over one million Mental Health First Aiders have been trained in the UK, yet only a third of mental health services are accessed by men. This shows that simply training mental health workers doesn't address the issues men face and now looks more like a tick box exercise or mental health whitewashing.
The conference shed light on key barriers preventing effective intervention, including the gender mental health gap, societal stigma, toxic masculinity, and inadequate efforts to reach men where they are.
The speakers also drew attention to the role of underlying issues such as loneliness, family separation, financial pressures, and gambling, which disproportionately affect men.
Reactive support systems that require men to seek help often fail. Real solutions must address the root causes and reach men in environments where they already exist.
Proactive Solutions for Positive Change
The conference's resounding message was clear: the current approach to men's mental health must be reimagined.
Support must move into male-centric industries such as farming, construction, and other high-risk sectors to make a meaningful impact. Proactive, population-based approaches are essential—not only to raise awareness but also to provide immediate and practical help.
The solution involves creating environments where men can uplift one another, fostering connections that help reduce the need for "safe spaces" by making all spaces safer for men.
The focus isn't just on mental health but also on addressing the real problems men face - issues that are too often overlooked or mischaracterized.
Tough To Talk's Commitment
At Tough To Talk, we understand the urgency of this crisis and are committed to being part of the solution. We specialise in providing proactive, practical support to male-centric spaces.
Our initiatives include:
Proactive suicide intervention training.
Bespoke talks are designed to engage men in meaningful conversations about issues they are dealing with.
Content that talks to men - We create bespoke content with you to support the men in your teams and talk about the issues they face that could lead to poor mental health and thoughts of suicide.
Consult with your organisation on the content you've created to help men align the tone of voice, content, and delivery of the message to meet their needs.
We also work with organisations to redesign support materials, ensuring they feel approachable, relevant, and effective for men.
Our mission is to equip these spaces with the tools to support men and inspire peer-to-peer connections, helping build a culture of openness and resilience.
A Call for Collective Action
The Second National Advancing Men's Mental Health in the Workplace Conference 2024 emphasised that systemic change is possible but requires collective action. By addressing the stigma and barriers men face and bringing solutions directly to male-dominated environments, we can foster a healthier future.
Tough To Talk is here to help organisations take the first step. Together, we can ensure that men are supported and empowered to lead better, stronger lives. It's time to stop waiting for men to reach out—it's time to bring support to them.
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