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Dad Matters (Surrey)

A support programme for dads, expectant fathers, and partners

Focuses on early parenting, bonding, and emotional wellbeing

Offers guidance and signposting across:

Education (e.g. pregnancy, baby care, sleep, coping with crying)

Wellbeing (mental health, support networks)

Crisis support (links to urgent help if needed)

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Dad Matters works with dads-to-be and dads with babies, you can get in touch with us directly via email or ask your midwife or health visitor to refer you.

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Support if you are experiencing mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, plus child and adolescent mental health information.

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Brief description

BASIS explains what is “normal” baby sleep and offers guidance on safe sleep, where babies sleep, and how parents can respond to them. It is run by the Durham Infancy & Sleep Centre and shares up‑to‑date scientific evidence in a clear, accessible way. [durham.ac.uk], [basisonline.org.uk]

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Research-based information on baby sleep for parents and practitioners, covering normal infant sleep, sleep safety, where and how babies sleep, SIDS and SUDI, parental sleep and free resources.

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ICON is a UK-based programme and charity initiative designed to support parents and carers in coping with a crying baby and to keep infants safe.

The name ICON stands for:

I – Infant crying is normal

C – Comfort methods can help soothe a baby

O – It’s OK to walk away for a short time if you feel overwhelmed

N – Never, ever shake a baby [westsussexscp.org.uk]

ICON’s main aim is to prevent abusive head trauma (shaken baby syndrome) by giving simple advice, reassurance, and support to families. It works with the NHS and other organisations to educate parents, reduce stress, and promote safe, healthy responses to infant crying.

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ommy’s is a UK-based pregnancy and baby charity that works to make pregnancy safer and reduce baby loss. It focuses on funding research into the causes and prevention of miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth, while also providing trusted information and support to parents and families. [srh.bmj.com], [lovetodream.co.uk]

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We use the word 'partner' to include:

the partner(s), spouse or civil partner (including same-sex partners) of the mum or birthing parent

the biological father of the child

the co-parent(s)

the secondary adoptive parent having a child through surrogacy.

Our language is under constant review as we understand more about our audience's needs.

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Planning a pregnancy and having a baby are life-changing and exciting events. We have lots of information and and support to help you.

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What we do

Our work is simple yet vital: to educate and empower young people with the knowledge, skills, and strategies they need to navigate the complex demands of today’s world with resilience and confidence. By doing so, we aim to prevent mental health issues spiralling out of control and build a brighter future for all.

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Home - Bee-lieve Foundation : Bee-lieve Foundation

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Puddles Not Muddles Counselling is based near Heathrow Airport. We have a small flock of friendly sheep some goats and a herd horses who all live on the 6 acres of land. We were lucky enough to find the farm a few years ago and have worked very hard to start the process of returning this neglected space into a place that embraces and enhances the the natural environment. We have found that the more love and care we have put into it  the more birds and wild animals return. The natural balance has started returning.

I realised as a therapeutic counsellor that I wanted to do things a little differently. Use my passion for creativity, the outdoors and animals alongside the more traditional talking therapy session to help clients and provide a unique experience which is a little different from the norm. Why not it's always served me well in the past and gives me great comfort and insite when life is hard. So Puddles Not Muddles was born and each year it grows and flourishes a little more,  new plants grow, new animals arrive and with them come more opportunity's and more learning for me and for our clients and visitors. Almost as if it was meant to be, and that this little farm nestled away near Heathrow airport lost and forgotten is so happy that it now has a big purpose.

If you would like to talk about how counselling could help you or you are interested in knowing more about what we do please call Gemma 07860100577 or contact us via the contact form.

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About

Reasons to Stay is a suicide prevention project reaching people at difficult moments through anonymous letters written by volunteers.

​

Each letter on this site was written by a real person and delivered to you at random when you visited this page.

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This space exists as a reminder that we are not alone, even when it feels that way. There is someone, somewhere who wrote you a letter because they care.

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If you'd like to, you can write your own letter to a stranger giving warmth, hope and connection to someone when they need it most.​

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All letters are moderated by a wonderful team of volunteer clinical moderators who are all clinically trained professionals with experience supporting people in distress. The team ensure that all letters are safe to be read by people in suicidal distress before they are published to the site and delivered to visitors.

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This project was designed in memory of Sam West, who took his own life in 2018. If you’re struggling right now, reaching out to a support service or someone you trust could really help. Find resources here.

​

​

Created by Ben West

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Reasons to Stay is a suicide prevention project reaching people at difficult moments through anonymous letters written by volunteers. Each letter on this site was written by a real person and delivered to you at random when you visited this page.

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If you’re feeling lonely, stressed, worried or just not yourself, on Togetherall you can get support and start to feel better.

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Whatever's on your mind, we're here - Togetherall

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Need urgent help? Contact one of these crisis support services

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The internet can be a way to understand your mental health condition or treatment, connect with others, or get therapy. Being online can let you explore things at your own pace, at a time that suits you and with total anonymity if that’s important to you. It’s also important to get a balance between being online and offline. Make sure you have regular time to go outside, read a book or visit a friend, for example. If you feel like being online is making you feel worse, take a break or find offline mental health support instead.

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Summary

The internet can be a way to understand your mental health condition or treatment, connect with others, or get therapy. Being online can let you explore things at your own pace, at a time that suits you and with total anonymity if that's important to you.

It's also important to get a balance between being online and offline. Make sure you have regular time to go outside, read a book or visit a friend, for example. If you feel like being online is making you feel worse, take a break or find offline mental health support instead.

Online information

Perhaps the simplest way to get help online is by visiting trustworthy websites to find out more about mental health problems, symptoms and treatment options.

Use reliable, evidence-based sources such as our A-Z pages or the NHS Every Mind Matters website. Have a look at the links on our 'getting help with your mental health' page, or ask your GP for recommendations.

You may also find podcasts and videos helpful. The NHS has some mental wellbeing audio guides, and Mind has a YouTube channel, for example.

Online one-to-one support

Sometimes it can feel easier to talk about what's on your mind through an online chat rather than on the phone or face-to-face. The organisations listed below let you have an online conversation with a trained volunteer or counsellor in real-time.

If you're a young person, you can contact Childline (for people under 18) or The Mix (for people under 25)

If you're LGBTQIA+, contact Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline to talk to an LGBTQIA+ volunteer. If you're experiencing domestic abuse, you can use Galop's webchat service

You can talk to a Beat advisor if you're affected by an eating disorder

CALM offers a webchat service for anyone feeling down who needs to talk

My Black Dog is a peer support chat service for people with mental health difficulties

Online communities

Posting on online forums can connect you to support and advice from others who understand what you're going through. You could join:

All these forums are moderated, meaning a team will check all posts to keep the community safe and stop harmful messages from being shared.

Smartphone apps

If you have a smartphone, apps can help you manage your mental health. They can provide information, tips, games, exercises and self-help.

You can download apps from 'app' stores such as the Apple App Store and Google Play. Make sure the app is genuine and secure, especially before entering personal information or paying to use it. Check the reviews in the app store: a real app will likely have hundreds of positive reviews.

Online self-help programs

If you talk to your doctor about your mental health or self-refer for talking therapy, you may be offered an online self-help course. These courses often use cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

It can be a convenient way to have therapy if you don't have a lot of time, can't access face-to-face therapy, or want totally anonymous help. It can also be a good way to try out CBT and see if it's right for you. However, it might not be what you need if you don't have a lot of energy or motivation.

Some areas offer guided self-help, where you go through the course with some telephone or email support from a therapist.

Online therapy

Online therapy is a chance to talk to a counsellor online via a video call. It's also known as e-therapy, internet counselling or remote counselling. Sessions work in the normal way, except instead of going to a counselling room, you see your counsellor via your laptop, tablet or mobile phone.

If you want online therapy, talk to your GP or self-refer to your local psychological therapies service to see if it's available on the NHS. You can also find private therapists who offer an online service.

Is online support right for me?

Some reasons why online mental health support might be right for you include:

lack of time - websites and apps are always available, meaning you can get help as and when you have time. Online therapy means you don't have to spend time travelling to see a counsellor or worrying about traffic or train cancellations

physical barriers - if you're disabled or live somewhere remote, it might be difficult or impossible to access face-to-face services

social anxiety or agoraphobia - if you feel too anxious to leave your home or spend time in a new environment, you might feel more comfortable talking to someone from home

feeling shy, or worrying about being judged - even though more and more of us are getting help with our mental health, there can still be a stigma about it. Getting help online can feel more discreet and confidential.

You can also use some types of online support - such as message boards or self-help programs - if you're on a waiting list for talking therapy.

There are also reasons why online support might not be right for you. For example:

unreliable technology - if your wifi isn't reliable or your laptop frequently crashes, your online chats or therapy sessions may be interrupted

no confidential space at home - worrying about being overheard or interrupted may prevent you from speaking openly to a counsellor

not always suitable - online support isn't right for everyone. For example, some people find online communities lonely as they don't get the same kind of connection they do offline; online counselling isn't always suitable for more complex mental health conditions.

Remember there are many ways to get support offline, whether talking to a friend, speaking to your GP, exercising or finding a peer support group for example. Our free guide, How to look after your mental health, has more suggestions.

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Online information, online one-to-one support, online communities, online self-help programs, online therapy, smartphone apps... Is online support right for me?

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Our Recovery College offers a wide range of free courses to help people better understand and manage their mental health needs, recover and stay well.

Our courses are delivered by specially trained Recovery Coaches, who have lived experience of mental or physical ill health, alongside mental health professionals. They provide information, strategies and skills that help people to become experts in their own self-care.

People who would like support with managing their wellbeing, family and friends who would like to learn how to support loved ones, and healthcare professionals can all benefit from these courses.

Our courses cover mental and physical health and are held either virtually or in safe and supportive learning spaces.

Recovery College is open to anyone aged 18+ living in Surrey and Northeast Hampshire. Enrolling in our courses is easy and entirely self-referral. You can explore and sign up for all our courses here.

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Our Recovery Colleges in Surrey and North East Hampshire are designed to support people in their recovery. They help people improve their health and wellbeing through courses on a range of mental and physical health conditions.

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Mindworks Surrey are the children and young people’s emotional wellbeing, mental health and learning disability service in Surrey. They offer a range of wellbeing and mental health services for young people:

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Emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people, including the CAMHS service, now known as Intensive Interventions.

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Supporting Wellbeing. Building Communities.

MenWalkTalk is a UK charity that creates safe, supportive spaces for men to walk, talk and connect with others.

We organise free, volunteer-led walk-and-talk groups in parks, along seafronts, through woodlands and towns, bringing men together in a relaxed, pressure-free way to support their mental wellbeing.

There’s no pressure to talk, no judgement and no expectations. Whether you want to open up, listen or just enjoy being around others, you’ll be welcomed exactly as you are.

What started with a single walk in Littlehampton has now grown into a network of men walking and talking across the UK.

Every walk is built on the same simple belief: that walking side by side can change lives.

So whether you’re looking for support, wanting to meet new people or just need a reason to get outside, MenWalkTalk is here for you.

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Please consider the following if you need immediate support:

- Attend your local A&E department.

- Contact your local Mental Health Line

- Contact the Samaritans TEL: 116 123 (Contactable 24hours)

- Request an urgent appointment with your GP

- Check out our list of useful crisis support and resources on our 'Contact Us' page.

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Please consider the following if you need immediate support: - Attend your local A&E department. - Contact your local Mental Health Line - Contact the Samaritans TEL: 116 123 (Contactable 24hours) - Request an urgent appointment with your GP - Check out our list of useful crisis support and resources on our 'Contact Us' page.

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WorkWell: Supporting people with health issues to stay or return to work - Surrey County Council

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WorkWell is guided support helping people to stay working if on a Fit note or their health and wellbeing is about to affect their ability to do their job.

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f you’re in a mental health crisis and need urgent help, support is available any time, day or night.

Call 111 and choose the mental health option to speak to our crisis resolution team

or

Call us directly on 0800 915 4644

This service is free and open to people of all ages in Surrey and North East Hampshire.

If you are at immediate risk of harm, call 999.

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Get help in a mental health crisis : Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

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24-hour support is available to all in Surrey and North East Hampshire experiencing a mental health crisis.

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Walk & Talk 999 began with a simple but powerful idea: bringing men together, outdoors, to walk side by side and support each other’s mental health.

Dean experienced first-hand how opening up and showing vulnerability encouraged others to do the same. After attending a  community men's walking group  in Greenwich Park and seeing the positive impact it had, he decided to trial a similar idea for men connected to the services. This is how Walk & Talk 999 was born.

We are a group of volunteers who run free, leisurely walks for men at various locations across the UK. Our passion is rooted in a shared commitment—to improve mental wellbeing within the Service community and to break down the barriers that too often stop men from reaching out for help.

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Breaking the Silence: Supporting men who experience domestic abuse in Surrey

Domestic abuse affects people of all genders, yet men often face additional barriers to seeking support. While women are disproportionately affected, it is important to recognise that men can also be victims and ensure they know help is available.

Tragically, domestic abuse-related death reviews in Surrey have highlighted cases where men, feeling isolated and unsupported, have taken their own lives. Many hesitate to reach out due to stigma or fear of not being believed. This silence can have serious consequences, not only in cases of physical harm but also for those experiencing coercive control or emotional abuse.

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Domestic abuse affects people of all genders, yet men often face additional barriers to seeking support. While women are disproportionately affected, it is important to recognise that men can also be victims and ensure they know help is available.

Tragically, domestic abuse-related death reviews in Surrey have highlighted cases where men, feeling isolated and unsupported, have taken their own lives. Many hesitate to reach out due to stigma or fear of not being believed. This silence can have serious consequences, not only in cases of physical harm but also for those experiencing coercive control or emotional abuse.

Raising awareness of support services is crucial. No one should suffer alone. ESDAS together with other Surrey domestic abuse services provide confidential support for anyone affected by domestic abuse, regardless of gender. Your Sanctuary offers a specialist male service, which is available to men across Surrey and tailored to men's needs. Mental health support is equally important, as abuse can lead to anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Local mental health services and charities are also available to provide professional support to help men recover and rebuild their lives.

Reaching out for help is a sign of strength not weakness. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, support is available. By raising awareness and signposting services, we can create a more supportive community for everyone.

You are not alone, help and support is available. ESDAS and our partner Surrey domestic abuse services offer confidential support for anyone affected by domestic abuse; Your Sanctuary offer specialist services for men.

Visit: www.surreyagainstda.info or Call the Surrey Domestic Abuse Helpline (provided by Your Sanctuary) 01483 776 822 (9am - 9pm, Monday - Friday). For mental health support please visit: Mental wellbeing support for men | Healthy Surrey.

Useful links:

Your Sanctuary : https://www.yoursanctuary.org.uk/
Men's Advice Line UK
A charity for male victims of domestic violence of all ages, run by Respect

Call: 0808 801 0327

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Help for Male Victims | Support Male Victims Today - East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service

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Providing confidential support and resources for men affected by domestic abuse in Surrey. Help is available - reach out and start your recovery now.

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Man2Man is our telephone based peer support service from a trained StrongMen volunteer with first-hand experience of losing a loved one.

Men who contact StrongMen for support will be triaged, based on their completed application form, and follow up calls (if necessary). Dependent on this process beneficiaries will be offered the opportunity to speak with one of our trained volunteers for a friendly chat. Each beneficiary will receive up to six weeks of peer support from StrongMen.

The service seeks to capitalise on the connection felt between two people with similar shared life experiences, simply knowing your volunteer has empathy with your situation maximises trust without fear of judgement.

All our peer support volunteers have received support themselves from one of our services.

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Man2Man is our telephone based peer support service from a trained StrongMen volunteer with first-hand experience of losing a loved one.

Men who contact StrongMen for support will be offered the opportunity to speak with one of our trained volunteers for a friendly chat. Each beneficiary will receive up to six weeks of peer support from StrongMen.

The service seeks to capitalise on the connection felt between two people with similar shared life experiences, simply knowing your volunteer has empathy with your situation maximises trust without fear of judgement.

All of our peer support volunteers have attended the StrongMen Weekender.

Register now
What is Peer Support?

Peer support is built on empathy based around shared experiences, focusing on your strengths, rather than weaknesses with the goal of achieving wellbeing and recovery. It may be social, emotional or practical support but, importantly, peer support is mutually offered and reciprocal, allowing you to benefit from the support whether you are giving or receiving it.

Though the language of peer support is relatively new in the UK, in practice self-help groups and mutual support has been around for many years. In Canada and the USA, peer support in its various forms has been a widely recognised and utilised resource that has been developing since the 1960s. In recent years there has been an increasing emphasis on the value of peer support in the UK.

Research has shown that peer-run self-help groups yield improvement in psychiatric symptoms resulting in decreased hospitalisation, larger social support networks and enhanced self-esteem and social functioning.

Peer support comes in a range of guises including listening, mentoring, education, tutoring and meditation, our service is based on "peer listening and discussion". Our volunteers have been trained in a variety of counselling skills including active listening, verbal and non-verbal communication, confidentiality and problem solving.
The benefits of peer support are wide ranging including the peer support workers themselves, helping improve their mental health, key to this being the increased empathy and respect that peer supporters have for the individuals they support. Providing and receiving support increases self-esteem, confidence and positive feelings that increase the ability to cope with mental health problems.

Peer support also has significant benefits to the NHS with earlier intervention relieving the pressure through reduced hospital admissions for those taking part.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there have been over 40,000 extra deaths in the UK alone. These families will be reaching out for support. In line with what we know about the way men seek support for bereavement, we expect men to put themselves last when it comes to helping their families deal with their bereavement. It is vital that a visible support service dedicated to men is available. We are already seeing male suicide numbers increase year on year and without direct action, this will continue to rise through 2021 and beyond.

Extra Time runs alongside Man2Man peer support service currently staffed by trained volunteers. Sometimes the needs of individuals fall outside the training and expertise that volunteers can provide, this is where Man2Man Extra Time steps in. Staffed by fully qualified Counsellors this service is provided over 12 sessions, designed, and administered to support those with complex needs and symptoms. Applications for Man2Man Extra Time are via the link above and will be triaged by our qualified and experienced team prior to commencement.

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Man2Man is our telephone based peer support service from a trained StrongMen volunteer with first-hand experience of losing a loved one.

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A toolkit designed by one father, for other fathers. The Toolkit is a set of resources for navigating the storms of modern Fatherhood with greater clarity and confidence.

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Find your way as a Father | Father’s Freedom

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Coaching for Dads, by Dads. Fatherhood is the greatest challenge and privilege. At Father’s Freedom, we help dads like you navigate the highs and lows, bringing clarity to your values, confidence to your parenting, and joy to your journey.

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Founded in January 2022 by Samuel Davies, Men Who Talk is a registered UK charity offering safe, inclusive spaces for men to open up, connect, and support one another.

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Over the last few years, the world has gradually started to understand the importance of mental health and wellbeing, however we are still a way from truly making the time and space to work on our mental wellbeing each day.

The truth is, being mentally healthy is just as important as being physically healthy (in fact you cannot be one without the other!), and therefore requires the same amount of attention.

Despite this, our mental health and wellbeing is often neglected, leading many adults to suffer from low mood, anxiety, depression and many other common mental disorders.

The news is not all bleak though, research has shown that when we talk about our thoughts and feelings, we can improve our mood and build our resilience against every day life experiences.

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UK Based non profit organization offering peer support groups to men aged 18 plus in the UK.

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A significant amount of Youth Fairy referrals come from word of mouth and recommendations – thank you AMAZING parents for spreading the word! But if you have found us of your own accord then please feel free to look though some of our testimonials to hear how we have helped to make positive changes in the lives of young people and their families.

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About The Youth Fairy

I'm Sian Noon, founder of The Youth Fairy, a growing team of solution focused therapists dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

Our solution focused approach to therapy is modern, evidence based and actively encourages children to re-focus more on the positive aspects of their lives, recognise strengths and capabilities, improve quality of sleep, and engage more in positive activities and interactions with others.

All Youth Fairies have substantial experience working with young people in various settings and are collectively qualified in a range of approaches including Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy, Coaching, NLP and Youth Mental Health First Aid.

Whether you are a parent seeking help for your child, a school looking for wellbeing initiatives to support your students and staff or you would like to become a Youth Fairy yourself and help to impact positively on children's mental health, please browse the website to find out more.

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The Youth Fairy: Empowering Growth for Positive Futures

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Dive in to explore a positive solution focused approach to anxiety, anger, low morale and stress among children with The Youth Fairy. Contact us today!

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Support for dads

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Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

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In 2021 our aim was to provide a safe space for men serving, served or retired from the blue light, NHS and military services.

This started as one weekly walk in Beckenham Place Park (SE London) in 2021.

Now in 2025 we have 17 walks across the United Kingdom providing this.

Our aim now is to continue to expand these walks and provide further spaces for Men to attend.

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Help For Domestic Violence Perpetrators | Respect Phoneline UK

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The Respect Phoneline offers help for domestic abuse perpetrators who want to change, we give confidential advice & support to help you stop being abusive.

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Healthy Surrey

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Information on local Surrey based and national specialist support services for male survivors of domestic abuse.

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We are a Surrey based charity supporting survivors of Domestic Abuse

We offer sanctuary, support and empowerment to anyone affected by Domestic Abuse. All our services are confidential. Please click the photos below for further information
on the services we offer.

"Since we have come to the refuge my son has become a very happy and confident boy. Before we came here he was very shy and wouldn't leave my side, but now he is quite happy to play with other children."

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- Your Sanctuary Refuge Resident -

"Thank you so much for all of your help and support, I definitely wouldn't have the strength to do this without you supporting me."

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- Your Sanctuary Outreach Client -

We are part of the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership (SDAP) which is a group of independent charities who work together across the whole of Surrey to support survivors of Domestic Abuse and to build a future where Domestic Abuse is not tolerated in our communities.

March 2020
Domestic Abuse Bill

"In the year ending March 2019, an estimated 2.4 million adults aged 16 to 74 years experienced domestic abuse in the last year (1.6 million women and 786,000 men).

The Bill aims to ensure that victims have the confidence to come forward and report their experiences, safe in the knowledge that the state will do everything it can, both to support them and their children and pursue the abuser.".

Dec 2022
Children classed as domestic abuse victims under new guidance

" Children who grow up amid domestic abuse will be treated as victims and given specialist support even if they were not present during violent attacks.

Changes to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance mean they will get automatic access to mental health treatment, other support services and protective measures in court.

Prosecutors will be asked to consider the impact of abuse on young people when making a charging decision, and to seek information from schools, councils and charities."

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June 2022
New non-fatal strangulation offence comes into force

"I n June 2022 non-fatal strangulation was made a specific offence as part of the government's landmark Domestic Abuse Act. The practice typically involves a perpetrator strangling or intentionally affecting their victim's ability to breathe in an attempt to control or intimidate them.

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The new offence will also apply to British nationals abroad. It means perpetrators can be prosecuted in England and Wales for offences committed overseas - ensuring there is no escape for abusers."

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We are a Surrey based charity supporting survivors of Domestic Abuse We offer sanctuary, support and empowerment to anyone affected by Domestic Abuse. All our services are confidential. Please click the photos below for further information on the services we offer. "Since we have come to the refuge my son has become a very happy and confident boy.

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Services

Life-transforming solutions to help people overcome barriers, build better futures and foster personal wellbeing.

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© 2024 Interventions Alliance. All Rights Reserved.Registered Office: Main Road, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4RG Company Registration No: 2291188 VAT Registration No: GB507 510475

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Local Support Contacts

Local support contacts listen and share with the bereaved. Parents can feel a great relief as they talk about their son or daughter – the way he or she died, his or her place in the life of the family - feelings they may find difficult to express elsewhere.

Our local support contacts provide a safe environment for bereaved parents and their families to express themselves in the company of others who understand their grief. They are there if you would just like to talk, in person, by phone or by email.

Support Group Meetings

Some local contacts hold group support meetings where bereaved parents can talk and share together in a private and safe place with others who truly understand what it means to be a bereaved parent. If you feel a group could be helpful for you, do call our Helpline on 0345 123 2304 for more details for your nearest group or email us.

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What is the need?

Bereavement is misunderstood and under supported:

Millions of people – all ages – are bereaved in the UK every year, but society doesn’t fully understand the impact or provide adequate support.

Every aspect of life can be affected: practical, emotional, physical, relational, behavioural, spiritual and psychological.

Therapists are often the only support known. They can be costly and over-subscribed.

Bereavement support is prevention, contributing to the health and well-being of our society:

Unsupported grief is a main contributor to many societal issues, including mental and physical ill-health, relationship breakdown, job loss, addiction and debt.

Finding timely help can make all the difference, enabling bereaved people to navigate their circumstances and reach a healthy, new normal.

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charity providing signposting to bereavement support uk wide

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AtaLoss.org is the UK's signposting and information website for bereaved people

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Find support services, information, helplines and resources to help you and family members at any stage in your bereavement. Easy to use filters tailor results to suit your needs and circumstances, location and age. Over 1400 listings including free and paid for services.

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Grief can be overwhelming - you don’t have to deal with it alone. Cruse Bereavement Support is here. Call our helpline or chat online.

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Man2Man is our telephone based peer support service from a trained StrongMen volunteer with first-hand experience of losing a loved one.

Men who contact StrongMen for support will be triaged, based on their completed application form, and follow up calls (if necessary). Dependent on this process beneficiaries will be offered the opportunity to speak with one of our trained volunteers for a friendly chat. Each beneficiary will receive up to six weeks of peer support from StrongMen.

The service seeks to capitalise on the connection felt between two people with similar shared life experiences, simply knowing your volunteer has empathy with your situation maximises trust without fear of judgement.

All our peer support volunteers have received support themselves from one of our services.

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Our aim is to support men following bereavement. Grief can cause severe emotional and physical health conditions which are often overlooked and even ignored, especially in men.

It is with personal experience in these issues that the team behind StrongMen has created incredible services to help men going through the toughest of times.

Please take a look at our services, register for support and our e-News and why not fundraise for us too? Or become a corporate partner?

Enjoy looking around our website and contact us at Hello@StrongMen.org.uk should you wish to know more about this amazing, innovative, life changing charity.

Get involved

Find out more about our 'I Remember' campaign

Read more

Let StrongMen help you

From peer to peer support, to amazing weekenders - just reach out - we can help you.

Man2Man

Man2Man is our telephone based peer support service from a trained StrongMen volunteer with first-hand experience of losing a loved one.

Read more

Weekenders

The StrongMen ‘Weekender Retreat’ is our unique premier service, where groups of men have the opportunity to relax and enjoy beautiful remote surroundings whilst engaging in conversation and physical activities in a safe, secure environment with other men with shared experiences.

Read more

Our Network

Our Network is an online platform designed as a social network for health matters.

Read more

Talks

"The feedback we had was staggering. So much positivity and support.... People genuinely feeling like their lives have been changed by the talk"

Read more

Sign up for our newsletter

Enter your details below to make sure you are the first to know about any StrongMen developments.

Other ways you can help

Help us to help others by supporting StrongMen. Every donation, large or small will make a huge difference. Thank you.

We have a Just Giving page which you can use for your events.

Read more

Visit our Crowdfunder page, which operates with 0% fees

Read more

Amazon donates 0.5% of purchases of eligible purchases to StrongMen.

Read more

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Our aim is to support men following bereavement. Grief can cause severe emotional and physical health conditions which are often overlooked and even ignored, especially in men.

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Who takes part?

Every year, International Men’s Day in the UK is marked by more and more women, men and organisations across the country.  Across November there are Parliamentary debates, policy launches, employer days (perfect for showcasing Diversity Equality Inclusion – DEI / EDI), community events, health days, business events, staff support days, debates, student events, political events, lectures, research launches, gigs, charity promotion days,  book launches, mental health discussions, film showings, conferences, competitions, comedy nights, get-togethers, award announcements and charity fundraisers – the most anywhere in the world.

There were c200 organisations involved in 2018, 2019 and 2020.  In 2021 though there was an estimated 400 organisations, 2022  saw around 600 plus more in 2023 . There were over 100,000 tweets and it was the hottest trend for hours!

Organisations and people do not have to stick to holding an event or celebration on 19 November if they want to mark the day.

The three core themes for International Men’s Day in the UK which are used every year to help  maximise participation are:

Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys

Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys’ wellbeing

Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity

Please feel free to use any of them (or a combination) as a “guide/framework” for any events and activities that you may hold. Many focus on “Caring for men cares for everyone”, “Supporting our Men and Boys”, “Supporting Men and Boys”, “Better Health for Men and Boys”, “It’s OK to Talk” “Supporting male wellbeing” and “Raising awareness/funds for x” type-themes, for example. Many also get involved and invite/support charities and other groups.

We keep it general because people/organisations have told us they do not want to be constrained  by one specific theme on one specific topic. Please see the themes page for more information and ideas.

The Men and Boys Coalition will be using “Caring for men cares for everyone”.

It is an inclusive platform that supports men and boys in all forms.

These core themes help to address some of the issues that affect men and boys such as:

The high male suicide rate

The challenges faced by boys and men at all stages of education and work including attainment, re-training, stress, redundancy and unemployment

Men’s health (including male cancers), shorter life expectancy, body image and workplace deaths – plus the health impact of Covid-19

The challenges faced by the most marginalised men and boys in society – for instance, homeless men, boys in care, school excluded boys and the high rate of male deaths in custody

Male victims of violence and crime – for instance, bullying, sexual violence, gang violence, and, those coerced into county lines and other criminal activity

The challenges faced by men as parents, particularly new fathers and separated fathers

Male victims and survivors of sexual abuse, rape, sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based crime, stalking. online image-abuse, sextortion and modern slavery

Boys with no positive male role models in their lives

The negative portrayal of men, boys and fathers

Key statistics on the above can be found here

How to get involved!

To help with ideas on how to get involved, this page may help, plus  many organisations and people looked at what others were doing in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019,  2018 (and here), 2017, 2016  and in 2015. See who was involved in 2021 and 2022.

International Men’s Day (IMD) is a global day of observance held every year around the world. It invites every man, woman, girl and boy in the world to come together, to support and celebrate men and boys in all their diversity.

IMD in the UK takes a gender inclusive approach and therefore believes in ensuring that issues affecting women and girls are also resolved.  It also recognises the intersection between gender and other factors such as race, place, class  and sexuality which can compound the inequalities affecting men and boys.

We trust that you will find the information on this website valuable in spurring you into celebrating the role men and boys play in our society, highlighting the barriers they face and having some serious fun. If you need further information, please contact us here.

If you are interested in Men and Boys issues all year round – please look at the Men and Boys Coalition.

Best wishes and good luck!

Ally, Ben, Caroline, Dan, Duncan, Geoffrey, Glen, Mark, Maz, Sonia and Yousif

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UK Men's Day | The Home of International Men's Day in the UK

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Former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson MP: "This International Men's Day let us recognise and celebrate the incredible contribution that men and boys make to our society - and make sure that they are not alone to suffer in silence."

Former Prime Minister, Theresa May MP: "I recognise the important issues this event seeks to highlight including men's health, male suicide rates and the underperformance of boys in schools, these are serious issues that must be addressed in a considered way."

Welcome to International Men's Day (#internationalmensday) in the UK.

International Men's Day in the UK is on 19 November every year (Sunday in 2023). It is marked across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - and the whole world. Check out the events calendar (we can list yours too!) and our themes page and ideas page. We are also on social media too (see end).
Many organisations and people hold events and activities in the week before and the week after, especially if it falls on a weekend like this year (generic undated IMD images can be found in the images section). Please do not be constrained by the day of the week. Who takes part?
Every year, International Men's Day in the UK is marked by more and more women, men and organisations across the country. Across November there are Parliamentary debates, policy launches, employer days (perfect for showcasing Equality Diversity Inclusion - EDI), community events, health days, business events, staff support days, debates, student events, political events, lectures, research launches, gigs, charity promotion days, book launches, mental health discussions, film showings, conferences, competitions, comedy nights, get-togethers, award announcements and charity fundraisers - the most anywhere in the world.

There were c200 organisations involved in 2018, 2019 and 2020. In 2021 though there was an estimated 400 organisations and 2022 was the best yet with over 600. There were over 100,000 tweets and it was the hottest trend for hours!
Organisations and people do not have to stick to holding an event or celebration on 19 November if they want to mark the day. The three core themes for International Men's Day in the UK which are used every year to help maximise participation are:

Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys

Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys' wellbeing

Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity

Please feel free to use any of them (or a combination) as a "guide/framework" for any events and activities that you may hold. Many focus on "Better Health for Men and Boys", "It's OK to Talk" "Supporting male wellbeing" and "Raising awareness/funds for x" type-themes, for example. Many also get involved and invite/support charities and other groups. We keep it general because people/organisations have told us they do not want to be constrained by one specific theme on one specific topic. Please see the themes page for more information and ideas.
These core themes help to address some of the issues that affect men and boys such as:

The high male suicide rate

The challenges faced by boys and men at all stages of education and work including attainment, re-training, stress, redundancy and unemployment

Men's health (including male cancers), shorter life expectancy, body image and workplace deaths - plus the health impact of Covid-19

The challenges faced by the most marginalised men and boys in society - for instance, homeless men, boys in care, school excluded boys and the high rate of male deaths in custody

Male victims of violence and crime - for instance, bullying, sexual violence, gang violence, and, those coerced into county lines and other criminal activity

The challenges faced by men as parents, particularly new fathers and separated fathers

Male victims and survivors of sexual abuse, rape, sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based crime, stalking. online image-abuse, sextortion and modern slavery

The negative portrayal of men, boys and fathers

Key statistics on the above can be found here How to get involved!
To help with ideas on how to get involved, this page may help, plus many organisations and people looked at what others were doing in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 (and here), 2017, 2016 and in 2015. See who was involved in 2021 and 2022.

International Men's Day (IMD) is a global day of observance held every year around the world. It invites every man, woman, girl and boy in the world to come together, to support and celebrate men and boys in all their diversity.

IMD in the UK takes a gender inclusive approach and therefore believes in ensuring that issues affecting women and girls are also resolved. It also recognises the intersection between gender and other factors such as race, place, class and sexuality which can compound the inequalities affecting men and boys.

We trust that you will find the information on this website valuable in spurring you into celebrating the role men and boys play in our society, highlighting the barriers they face and having some serious fun. If you need further information, please contact us here.

If you are interested in Men and Boys issues all year round - please look at the Men and Boys Coalition.

Best wishes and good luck!
Ally, Ben, Caroline, Dan, Duncan, Geoffrey, Glen, Mark, Maz, Sonia and Yousif
The platform and brand for International Men's Day in the UK is the responsibility of the Men and Boys Coalition charity.

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Welcome to the home of International Men's Day in the UK

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International Men's Day in the UK is on 19 November. Organisations and the public shows their support on the day and the week before/after. Find out more on the website.

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The OLLIE Foundation is a suicide prevention and well-being charity on an important mission.

We provide accessible in-person and online training, events, initiatives and resources to reduce the number of people who feel like suicide is their only option. We want to give you the confidence to support someone to stay safe for now because…

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The OLLIE Foundation - Suicide Prevention and Wellbeing Charity

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The OLLIE Foundation provide accessible training, events, initiatives and resources to reduce the number of people who feel like suicide is their only option

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Man2Man is our telephone based peer support service from a trained StrongMen volunteer with first-hand experience of losing a loved one.

Men who contact StrongMen for support will be triaged, based on their completed application form, and follow up calls (if necessary). Dependent on this process beneficiaries will be offered the opportunity to speak with one of our trained volunteers for a friendly chat. Each beneficiary will receive up to six weeks of peer support from StrongMen.

The service seeks to capitalise on the connection felt between two people with similar shared life experiences, simply knowing your volunteer has empathy with your situation maximises trust without fear of judgement.

All our peer support volunteers have received support themselves from one of our services.

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Our aim is to support men following bereavement. Grief can cause severe emotional and physical health conditions which are often overlooked and even ignored, especially in men.

It is with personal experience in these issues that the team behind StrongMen has created incredible services to help men going through the toughest of times.

Please take a look at our services, register for support and our e-News and why not fundraise for us too? Or become a corporate partner?

Enjoy looking around our website and contact us at Hello@StrongMen.org.uk should you wish to know more about this amazing, innovative, life changing charity.

Get involved

Find out more about our 'I Remember' campaign

Read more

Let StrongMen help you

From peer to peer support, to amazing weekenders - just reach out - we can help you.

Man2Man

Man2Man is our telephone based peer support service from a trained StrongMen volunteer with first-hand experience of losing a loved one.

Read more

Weekenders

The StrongMen ‘Weekender Retreat’ is our unique premier service, where groups of men have the opportunity to relax and enjoy beautiful remote surroundings whilst engaging in conversation and physical activities in a safe, secure environment with other men with shared experiences.

Read more

Our Network

Our Network is an online platform designed as a social network for health matters.

Read more

Talks

"The feedback we had was staggering. So much positivity and support.... People genuinely feeling like their lives have been changed by the talk"

Read more

Sign up for our newsletter

Enter your details below to make sure you are the first to know about any StrongMen developments.

Other ways you can help

Help us to help others by supporting StrongMen. Every donation, large or small will make a huge difference. Thank you.

We have a Just Giving page which you can use for your events.

Read more

Visit our Crowdfunder page, which operates with 0% fees

Read more

Amazon donates 0.5% of purchases of eligible purchases to StrongMen.

Read more

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Our aim is to support men following bereavement. Grief can cause severe emotional and physical health conditions which are often overlooked and even ignored, especially in men.

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he original Men’s Minds Matter Non-Executive Committee comprised of seven people including experts with lived experience, leaders from the business world, researchers and psychologists. The committee offered advice and support on the strategic direction of Men’s Minds Matter as well as governance for the project. The committee was formed in December 2014 and meet several times each year to discuss progress, achievements and future directions.

More recently we moved towards developing expert advisory panels to provide oversight of our projects. These comprise on experts with lived experience, people bereaved by suicide, clinicians and researchers. These advisory panels provide ongoing support and guidance on how to progress the work of Men’s Minds Matter.

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Men's Minds Matter is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the prevention of male suicide by building psychological resilience and emotional strength. We are passionate about reducing suicide rates for men through the development and provision of psychological crisis interventions that prevent suicide.
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When it comes to thinking about the psychological needs of men we seem to have our heads in the clouds, whistling merrily along as if everything is fine. Surprising given that:

Men currently make up 76% of all suicides in the UK The outward expression of male distress causes significant problems for other men, women and children
42% of men have considered suicide
Three quarters of missing people are male
90% of homeless people in London are men
Men are more likely to be victims of violence
5% of men (compared to 7% of women) have reported being a victim of domestic violence
Men make up the vast majority of the prison population
Men experience more substance abuse and dependence
Men account for 79% of drug related deaths
There are 800 000 deaths per year to suicide
Leading cause for young people and 12th leading cause of death globally

​

Dr Luke Sullivan is a consultant clinical psychologist and founding director of Men's Minds Matter. Luke has been working in the field of Men's Mental Health and Male Suicide since 2004. In 2009, Luke set up Men's Minds Matter, a not-for-profit community interest company dedicated to the prevention of suicide. In the NHS Luke works with crisis resolution home treatment teams with people at risk of taking their own lives.

Nigel Sanderson is the guy with lived experience of suicide and depression. Nigel has been able to overcome both of these difficulties after many years struggling. Nigel brings his expertise to Men's Minds Matter so as to help others in need. His experiences now help shape everything we do.

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Psychological resilience, emotional strength and suicide prevention

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Men's Minds Matter is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the prevention of male suicide by building psychological resilience and emotional strength. We are passionate about reducing suicide rates for men through the development and provision of psychological crisis interventions that prevent suicide.

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MAN v FAT Football is for men with a BMI of 27.50 or over. Over 90% of players lose weight and get fitter, why not join them from just £31 a month!

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At Tough Enough To Care we aim our focus toward male dominated spaces, to promote positive conversations around mental health and to remove the toxic stigma surrounding mental health within these spaces

We were founded in 2019 after Stu, our Founder & CEO lost two friends to suicide within 4 days. Up to that point, Stu was a product of male dominated environments where even talking about feelings or emotions was seen as a sign of weakness.

“As an Armed Forces veteran, industrial engineer that has played rugby my entire life, I fully understand the position men find themselves in, feeling they must be strong and silent and how damaging toxic masculinity can be, when it goes unchallenged. We all have our demons and darkest hours and for some, these are worse than others. We can feel that reaching out to talk to someone is a sign of weakness, somehow asking for help would make them less of a man…etc. Quite frankly, this vicious cycle needs to stop quickly.”

The idea stemmed from seeing a couple of beer mats with simple messages about checking on a mate who has been quiet or missing lately. This sparked something inside Stu and within a few hours of setting up a small Facebook group he had offers of help and support from so many people it was overwhelming. Within less than 6 weeks of starting what was a small online movement, We had distributed over 150,000 beer mats and 10,000 emergency contact cards worldwide and our latest parcels have reached as far as Australia, the Falklands, Afghanistan, and Japan. Since January 2020 we have been a registered UK charity and have also proudly signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

We provide a one stop shop for mental health support. In the first instance, to provide somewhere for those seeking help, support or just someone different to talk to. We also want to offer guidance for others that have been affected because of mental health issues. Amongst our support offerings we have are weekly peer support groups providing non-judgemental environments for people to attend a support one another. We also run a free to use text support service, deliver free mental health training to non-profits, community groups and grass roots sports clubs. We believe that money should never be a barrier to accessing support or enhancing your knowledge around mental health, which is why all our services are completely free of charge to the end service user.

To date, we have delivered over 2,500 hours of FREE mental health training and supported over 6,300 people who have accessed our variety of services, and long may this continue as we grow and achieve our goal of supporting every person in need.

A final thanks must go to our army of volunteers who work tirelessly to support Tough Enough To Care and without them, we simply would not exist. They volunteer their own time to ensure others have support when they need it most.

Thank you for everything,

The TETC team

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Tough Enough To Care Mission

We want people of all ages to feel comfortable talking and opening up about their emotions to those close to them, instead of bottling them up until they reach breaking point. We also want everyone to be able to spot when others may be struggling. There is no shame in being Tough Enough To Care.
Registered UK Charity No 1187404
We have recently partnered with SHOUT to provide a FREE text support service across the UK to ensure there is always someone there to talk to.
Text TOUGH to 85258
24/7, Free support service

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Welcome! 15 Square is an international charity based in the United Kingdom.

We aim to provide information on foreskin health conditions and how to resolve them without having to resort to unnecessary and unwanted surgery. We work to improve public and professional awareness about the function and value of the male foreskin as well as the complications and harms associated with circumcision affecting some men.

Finally, we work to help those affected by circumcision by providing support and advice.

The information on this website is designed to help individuals affected by foreskin health conditions, as well as individuals affected by circumcision issues including;

Psychological damage

Physical problems

Issues of sexual function resulting from the above

Personal dissatisfaction

On this website you can find foreskin health information and advice for intact men, as well as information for men with circumcision issues. This information is also targeted towards parents and carers. We teach about conservative techniques to help avoid unnecessary circumcision and help assist men who have been harmed. 15 Square promotes research, accurate health information, and informed consent.

If you would like to find out more or get in touch, you can follow the links below, or check our blog section for regular news and updates, or visit our social media.

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15 Square - Information, education and advice for men with or without a foreskin

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Information and advice for men with or without a foreskin. Foreskin Health Information & Advice for Circumcised Men. UK registered charity: #1072831

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We are the UK's germ cell cancer community

Our mission is to stop young adults dying from germ cell cancer - we do this through raising awareness with our life-saving cancer campaigns, engaging young adults with our digital education programmes & empowering the germ cell cancer community across the UK.

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The Robin Cancer Trust | Germ Cell Cancer Charity | Raising Awareness for Young People

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Raising awareness - The Robin Cancer Trust educate young people on the signs & symptoms of testicular cancer and ovarian cancer through our award-winning digital campaigns and life-saving events.

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The Men's Health Forum is a British registered charity whose mission is to improve the health of men and boys in England, Wales and Scotland.

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James’ Place was founded by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley following the tragic death of their son James in 2006. Ten days after a minor operation, James took his own life. He sought help for his anxiety and suicidal thoughts but didn’t find the urgent help he so desperately needed. Clare and Nick were determined to prevent other families from losing loved ones and set up James’ Place to provide support for men in suicidal crisis whose needs are not met by existing services.

The first James’ Place opened in June 2018 in Liverpool, the first of its kind in the UK. Our second James’ Place centre opened in London in 2022. Our third centre in Newcastle opened in early 2024. We offer safe, friendly, non-clinical environments, where suicidal men are cared for and respected.

We will open two new centres by the end of 2026. With five centres open we will be able to treat up to 2,000 men per year.

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Help for suicidal men in Liverpool and London

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Help for suicidal men in Liverpool and London. James' Place offers life-saving treatment for men in suicidal crisis.

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Established in Bridgend in 2019 by Rob Lester, Lads & Dads is an organisation that aims to support men with their mental wellbeing. For far too long men have found it difficult to access vital support for their mental health which is still a massive concern.

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When Rob was told he would have to wait three months for bereavement counselling he was confused as to how to look after his mental health until that point. In February, 2019, Rob lost his dad to pulmonary fibrosis, a degenerative lung disease. Rob got through the immediate week after, planning and speaking at the funeral, but as the days passed he properly came face-to-face with grief. Not wanting to allow himself to become consumed by the feeling, in early March 2019 Rob reached out to his GP who referred him to a bereavement charity. The charity, however, informed him they had no appointments available until June, three months later.

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Inspired by his own traumatic experiences and his growing awareness for male suicide rates, Rob used local Facebook groups to put out some feelers for a men's mental wellbeing group. After several positive responses from locals, Rob established Lads & Dads.

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Now in to it's third year, our group now has over 2000 active members with 10 committee members that work hard to ensure the group remains effective.

​

Those in the group benefit from having large open conversations with people they don't even know, regular sea dips as well as organised wellbeing events in local community centres.

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Lads & Dads | Men’s Mental Wellbeing | Bridgend, South Wales

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Welcome to Lads and Dads, a men’s mental wellbeing and support group operating out of Bridgend in South Wales. Learn more about who we are, what we do and how you can get involved with our fast-growing group.

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1 in 8 men get prostate cancer. Together, we're supporting our dads, brothers, partners and friends by raising awareness, funding lifechanging research, campaigning for change and providing much needed support.

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We want to stop prostate cancer being a killer. We fund groundbreaking research, drive improvements in treatment, and fight injustice in care.

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We’re here to help

Being diagnosed with cancer is frightening and you may feel isolated.

We can help you with information and support.

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Treating tens of thousands of NHS patients with common mental health problems every year, our high recovery rates are driven by our robust clinical model, research and improving the precision of our assessment and treatment.

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We totally understand that when you just want some help, completing questionnaires can be frustrating. We wish there was another effective way. Unfortunately, we can't safely allocate you a therapist and start your treatment until all the assigned questionnaires are complete.
‍
The questionnaires help your therapist understand you and your current state of mind. And they'll help you to check your progress and flag up any problems. The NHS also requires everyone to complete these questionnaires.
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This is why, throughout your therapy, you'll be asked to complete the questionnaires before each session.

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We totally understand that when you just want some help, completing questionnaires can be frustrating. We wish there was another effective way. Unfortunately, we can't safely allocate you a therapist and start your treatment until all the assigned questionnaires are complete.‍ The questionnaires help your therapist understand you and your current state of mind.

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We are a non-profit organisation and although we are based in the UK, this website is intended to be the main source of information for those seeking to find out more about colour blindness worldwide. We are delighted to host a wealth of resources for you to use.

Fundamental to the support we provide is our commitment to ensure the needs of colour blind children  are not overlooked. Our website includes specific sections for families and guidance for those working in the education sector, providing resources such as factsheets, videos and training for teachers and schools.

In sport we are world leaders. We created the first ever guidance for colour blindness in any sport for UEFA /the English Football Association in 2017. We also worked closely with World Rugby to deliver their guidance on colour blindness in 2021. We  deliver consultancy services across sport, including stadium audits. We are also a founding partner of the EU Sport funded project, Tackling Colour Blindness in Sport (TACBIS), which established the prevalence of colour blindness in elite, male footballers as 5% (one in every male squad).

For businesses and professionals committed to social responsibility and inclusion for their employees and customers, we offer consultancy advice across numerous different sectors. Please visit our sister website Colour Blind Awareness Consulting for more information.

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We empower men to take responsibility for their health... By providing positivity, passion and a push.

We also provide links to quality information and support, and encourage men to look after themselves better.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation has no paid staff at present, so there are limits on our activity. However, we provide talks to men across the country about their health, write widely on men’s health issues for a variety of online and print sources, and provide a signposting service for men and their families, pointing them in the right direction towards advice and support offered by other charities or the NHS. If you would like to arrange a talk for men at your organisation, company or other venue, do please contact us.

It is our belief that by working together with other charities in education and awareness campaigns, many male lives can be saved. Too many men are dying too young, or suffering from avoidable health problems, partly as a result of a lack of awareness of health issues and not seeking help soon enough. We’re here to push positive health and wellbeing for men, as well as encourage them to seek more support from friends, families or doctors.

And remember – whenever you see somebody wearing a blue ribbon, they are aware and have made a contribution towards support men’s health and wellbeing! Please support our efforts!

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MenSpeak Men's Groups CIC is a not-for-profit community creating spaces for enabling men, just like you, who want more out of life – to consciously, authentically, sustainably grow into bigger better lives..

We host daily live MenCheck-in men's groups online, monthly accredited MenFacilitate online facilitator trainings (live and online), special interest themed groups, private 'closed' groups, in-person retreats, and an online community network that promotes conscious connection in men and healthy masculinity.

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MenSpeak Men’s Groups are a safe and confidential space to hang out, be heard, and get real. We drop the ‘nice guy’, ‘macho man’, or whatever masks that we’ve been wearing so we can show up, exploring who we really are, rather than having to show off. We learn from one another’s experiences and grow from ‘maskuline’ into authentic masculine. Our groups are facilitated, not lead, meaning that our spaces are non-hierarchical and non-clinical. We follow the needs of the men present and follow wherever the conversation naturally takes us. There isn’t a right or wrong way of doing things.

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Our Story

BaggyTrousersUK is a cancer charity based in the North West of England, it was founded by Jack Broadley in 2014. After going through his own experience of testicular cancer at the age of 21, Jack decided to take on this challenge to embark on a journey that would inspire him to helping others that have been affected by the illness that he’d once had. Jack felt an inherent urge to make a difference in the lives of males affected by testicular cancer and that, with the charity being run by a survivor, he could get the message across to others by the telling of his experience.

Our Aims

1. To promote and protect the physical and mental health of sufferers of testicular cancer.
2. To provide financial assistance, support, education and practical advice to those affected by testicular cancer.
3. To advance the education of the general public in all areas relating to testicular cancer.

What We Do

As a charity we deliver a number of different services, we raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer, actively promoting the benefits of early detection and encouraging males to visit their GP if they detect any of the signs or symptoms.

We deliver engaging awareness talks and showcase awareness exhibitions/stands in public and corporate places handing out self-help materials such as leaflets, posters and step-by-step checking cards.

We provide financial and peer support to men who have been directly affected by testicular cancer via telephone, email, social media and a monthly peer support group.

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Baggy Trousers UK | Testicular Cancer Awareness

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Home - Baggy Trousers UK | Testicular Cancer Awareness

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Connection, conversation and creation – that’s what joining a Men’s Shed is all about.

Men’s Sheds encourage people to come together to make, repair and repurpose, supporting projects in their local communities.

Improving wellbeing, reducing loneliness and combatting social isolation.

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We support Men’s Sheds in the UK. Men’s Sheds are community workshops where men can create converse and connect.

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A community designed to provide a support network for fathers whose common ground is a love of Heavy Metal and all of its branches!

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METALIDADS. 685 likes · 4 talking about this. A community designed to provide a support network for fathers whose common ground is a love of Heavy Metal and all of its branches!

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We will work together with young parent families - to grow love and resilience, to tell their stories, and to build a society that cares about their future.

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HOME | Cornwall | WILD Young Parents Project

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WILD Young Parents Project charity runs weekly outreach groups for young mums and mums to be across Cornwall

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Why, with 100 new babies being born every hour, when was the last time you saw a dad and toddler group, a gents toilet with baby changing facilities, or a national brand using the slogan “As recommended by dads?

Why, when I took my son out, was I constantly told by random strangers that “I was a good boy for babysitting and giving mum some time off”, or did I need some help with the simplest of tasks like I was some 70s sitcom character or bumbling buffoon that couldn’t change a nappy.”

Why was it so hard to find other dads and male carers that understand; the dad guilt, the struggles with work/life balance, and know how to do things that I don’t?

The battles with mental or physical health issues that no one ever talks about. And fellas with whom you are okay to say, “I’m having a really shitty time of it lately, and I don’t know what to do”, but also got my daft sense of humour, cultural references, had the same music tastes, or could relate to my social awkwardness.

I came to the stark realisation that I couldn’t be the only one that felt like that.

It was then that I decided that something needed to change and that getting it done was the hill I was prepared to die on”.

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Dad La Soul is a revolutionary, non-profit, social enterprise made up of an ever-evolving, collaborative team of like-minded revolutionaries committed to social change.

We are a key part of TotRockinBeats C.I.C the UK’s most innovative and exciting intergenerational events and publishing agency.

Since 2016 our volunteer army of teachers, social workers, performers, journalists, film-makers and expert backstage staff, have been battling the causes of social isolation using a unique mixture of arts, tech, music and play to start conversations that matter.

We’ve won awards, been featured on the ITV, BBC News, Radio 4, The Guardian, The Sunday Times and sold out a wealth of theatres, old people’s homes, summer festivals, and 1,000 + capacity venues with our unique mix of music, tech and art.

Who We Are:

We are the dad that commutes all week long – he doesn’t see his kids during the week and hates it.

We are the dad whose only social life revolved around the friends their partners had made on the playground.

We are the stepdad that finds himself struggling as he tries to build relationships with his new family.

We are the dad that is adopting and trying to get to grips challenges that brings.

We are the separated dad who only sees his kids at weekends, and chokes back the feelings that he doesn’t feel allowed to talk about, because ‘real men’ don’t.

We are the dad who isn’t afraid to change a nappy yet finds it hard to take his kids out because all the changing facilities are in women’s toilets.

We are the stay-at-home dad who yearns for time with the boys.

We are the dads that are coming to terms with how to handle our child’s SEND needs.

We are all these dads and more.

Want to find out more about the work we do?

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The UK’s most exciting parenting and lifestyle platform for men. “The dads’ version of Mumsnet.” (BBC)

musicfootballfatherhood.com is home to the online community of fathers, and men looking to be fathers in the future, from the UK and beyond. We are a resource and a space where dads can be free to talk, listen and read about things that are important to us; stuff like work-life balance, mental health, raising healthy and well rounded children, money management, relationships and of course music and football. We have content for fathers at all stages of your parenting journey, whether you are an expectant dad, working dad or even a grandad!

The modern father is a new breed. We are way more involved and present than ever before. But every father is different. Whether you are a single parent, father of a blended family, a stay-at-home dad or a father of quadruplets, we are here to inspire, inform and support you on your journey.

Our aims are to:

1. Provide a space for dads to share the ups and downs of parenting: we do this through our blog, our Daddy Debates podcast, our monthly online support sessions called The Lodge and our events in partnership with football clubs called Extra Time.

2. Increase representation of diverse fatherhood: we do this through our work in the media showcasing a wide range of fathers

3. Champion gender equality in the workplace, at home and in football: we do this through our workshops and talks in organisations

And to support all of our aims, we are super proud that on 1st June 2021 we published our new book, DAD: untold stories of fatherhood, love, mental health and masculinity.

DAD is a deeply moving and inspiring collection of 20 stories that represent the diversity of modern fatherhood and seeks to start a conversation that challenges the traditions associated with masculinity. DAD is an amazon Top 10 bestseller and is an essential book for dads. Dad is out now and available from all the major book retailers, including Waterstones, WH Smith and Amazon.

To keep up to date with all we have going on, join our mailing list here and follow us on social media here.

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Music Football Fatherhood | For dads who want more open conversations around fatherhood - Music.Football.Fatherhood - open conversations around fatherhood

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The Fatherhood Institute is a UK charity working to build a society that values, prepares, and supports men as involved fathers and caregivers.

Evidence shows that involved fatherhood has unique and significant impacts on children, mothers, and fathers themselves; improves children's wellbeing and outcomes; and helps progress towards gender equality at home and in the workplace.

Our work focuses on research, policy, and practice. We publish research reviews, take part in new studies and test promising family interventions; advocate for policy change; produce practice resources; and train practitioners in perinatal, early years, education, and social care services.

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Shared Parenting Scotland is a small Scottish charity, previously called Families Need Fathers Scotland.

Our purposes according to the constitution are:

1. For the relief of parents and their children and other close family members living in Scotland or having a family member in Scotland who are suffering from the consequences of divorce or separation by providing advice, assistance and other support and, in so doing, helping parents stay in touch with their children after divorce or separation;

2. To further the emotional development of children in Scotland whose parents have divorced or separated by encouraging shared parenting arrangements which enable such children to have continuing and meaningful relationships with both their parents;

3. To conduct study and research into problems concerned with children in Scotland who are deprived of the presence of a parent in their families, and into the problems concerned with establishing good relations between parents living apart from their children, and to publish the useful results of all such study and research in order to encourage appropriate changes in professional and public opinion;

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Families Need Fathers, a recognised UK charity, offers valuable information and assistance to parents, regardless of marital status or gender.

FNF is dedicated to addressing the challenges associated with preserving a child’s connection with both parents amid and after family breakdowns. Established in 1974, FNF provides crucial support to thousands of parents annually.

For a membership fee that is less than the cost of a few minutes with a solicitor, individuals gain access to an extensive array of information and support that goes beyond what some legal professionals can offer.

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Families Need Fathers - Both Parents Matter (FNF), founded in 1974, is a registered charitable social care organization in the United Kingdom that offers information, advice, and support to parents whose children’s relationship with them is under threat during or after divorce or separation, or who have been alienated or estranged from their children. FNF also advocates for shared parenting, more time for children with their non-resident parent, and stronger court actions when a resident parent defies court orders requiring them to allow their children a relationship with the other parent. The organization’s goal is that children of divorce or separation should not lose the love and care of one of their parents.[1][2]

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Infertility is not just a female issue - men account for around half of all infertility problems – and with male infertility rates reportedly on the rise, it’s time to face the issue head on. It’s time to talk tackle!

Us Brits are not very good at talking about what goes on between the sheets or down south. But, with infertility affecting around 1 in 6 couples in the UK, it’s time to break the silence.

There is a real lack of support for men experiencing male fertility issues, so the HIMfertility campaign was set up by comedian Rhod Gilbert, to encourage men to talk about fertility problems and signpost them and their partners to much-needed support.

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Infertility is not just a female issue - men account for around half of all infertility problems - and with male infertility rates reportedly on the rise, it's time to face the issue head on. It's time to talk tackle!

Us Brits are not very good at talking about what goes on between the sheets or down south. But, with infertility affecting around 1 in 6 couples in the UK, it's time to break the silence.

There is a real lack of support for men experiencing male fertility issues, so the HIMfertility campaign was set up by comedian Rhod Gilbert, to encourage men to talk about fertility problems and signpost them and their partners to much-needed support.

HIMfertility has now found a new home with Fertility Network UK, and we're continuing to work with Rhod to spread awareness of male fertility causes and impacts.

Keep scrolling to learn more about male fertility causes and myths, or click the links in the sidebar to learn more about common conditions.

A message from Rhod Gilbert

I started the HIMfertility campaign after my wife and I had issues trying to conceive. The experiences we had while exploring fertility issues showed me just how little support and understanding there is around male infertility. I wanted to encourage men to open up and talk about the issue and, most importantly, to get the right support.

How common is male infertility?

In approximately half of couples experiencing difficulties conceiving, part of the problem lies with the male. Male infertility has a variety of causes. The most common cause is that the man's semen has too few normal sperm to pass through the female tract and fertilise the egg. Scroll down to learn about other causes.

If you have been trying unsuccessfully for a baby for 12 months, you should see your GP. However if you have any of the following problems you should visit your GP straight away:

undescended testicles

injury or trauma to the testicles

sexually transmitted infections

Your GP should examine you and arrange for you to have a semen analysis. If necessary your GP will then refer you to a fertility specialist who may arrange for further tests. You will then be able to decide on the best treatment to help you to conceive.

Causes of male infertility

Infertility can be caused by many different things. Problems with male reproductive organs or other medical factors can have an impact, as well as lifestyle and age-related factors. So while you may not be trying now, the choices you make can affect your fertility in the future.

Click on the icons to learn more.

Male infertility myths

Myth #1: "Infertility only affects women"

Myth #2: "Men don't have a body clock"

Myth #3: "There's nothing I can do about my fertility"

A word from Freshwater - the agency behind the HIMfertility campaign

"When Rhod got in touch to ask if we would be part of this campaign, we were delighted. We're passionate about the issue of infertility and were keen to help raise awareness. We have worked on many public awareness campaigns for important health issues in Wales and across the UK, so HIMfertility felt like a natural fit. You can read more about our work here. We're happy to have played a small part in raising awareness of the issue of male infertility and look forward to seeing how people respond; we're hoping this campaign will get people involved, encourage them to share the message and talk to each other. In the words of the HIMfertility campaign, it's time to talk tackle!"

Sign up to the HIMfertility mailing list

Fertility Network UK hosts monthly HIMfertility Support Group meetings, co-hosted by Toby Trice, Ian Stones, and Rhod Gilbert depending on availability. If you'd like to be notified when a new meeting is scheduled, please sign up to the mailing list:

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Infertility is not just a female issue - men account for around half of all infertility problems - and with male infertility rates reportedly on the rise, it's time to face the issue head on. It's time to talk tackle! Us Brits are not very good at talking about what goes on between the sheets or down south.

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After the devastating loss of Paul Lavelle in a domestic abuse incident in 2017, friends and family of Paul came together to create The Paul Lavelle Foundation. The Charity was created to raise awareness of male domestic abuse, support male victims and survivors and provide healthy relationship education as a preventative measure.

The Charity was registered in April 2018 with the intention of raising awareness to male domestic abuse through sports and outdoor activities. Due to the gap in service for support for males experiencing domestic abuse, the response to the Foundation grew considerably.  Our office was opened in February 2019 by Barbara Lavelle and Neville Southall, the organisation was established and has grown from strength to strength ever since.

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"The Paul Lavelle Foundation is currently helping me during what is undoubtedly the most troubling period of my life.

You can get a free session with most solicitors, but through my contacts at Paul Lavelle I was not only put in touch with a solicitor, he was able to provide legal advice, but also empathy with my situation.

I needed to attend a police interview and the same solicitor set me up with a criminal legal representative. He also provided sound legal counsel but also helped reassure me that I didn't have anything to worry about with regards the police matter. All this and not any point did anyone mention fees. They just wanted to help.

Others at the Paul Lavelle Foundation engage with me on a regular basis just to check in, and see how I'm getting on. They offer advice, reassurance, and help me see the path I need to take.

This isn't just an organisation to me now. It's become a band of people that really have my back. They help me see that I will come through this.

Throughout your life, people touch your heart, and maybe when your at your lowest you feel that touch more, but I will never forget what the Paul Lavelle Foundation has done / is doing for me.

If you're reading this and considering contacting them, do not hesitate.

Heartfelt thanks to all those involved."

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"The Paul Lavelle Foundation is currently helping me during what is undoubtedly the most troubling period of my life. You can get a free session with most solicitors, but through my contacts at Paul Lavelle I was not only put in touch with a solicitor, he was able to provide legal advice, but also empathy with my situation.

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About Us

The Mankind Initiative is the principal, expert and specialist charity in the UK focusing on male victims of domestic abuse. The charity collaborates and works in close partnership with other organisations and practitioners to support these victims too.

We were the first in Great Britain to support male victims. Our expertise derives from directly supporting male victims since 2001, our qualified professionals who manage the charity and our board which also consists of the UK’s leading academics and survivors.

Our three main activities are based on:

Direct support to male victims through a national helpline funded by donations (over 2,000 calls per year)

Support for organisations and practitioners who want to better recognise, support and understand male victims. This is through our specialist training, consultancy and support service, MIDASS and the national community and information network for practitioners that we created, own and manage, MDAN

Giving male victims a voice by engaging with stakeholders such as the government, statutory agencies, politicians, academia and the media.

Our aim is to ensure all male victims of domestic abuse (and their children) are supported to enable them to escape from the situation they are in. We are gender inclusive in our view so we want all female victims (and their children) to escape too.

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Our confidential helpline is available for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence across the UK as well as their friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues and employers.

We provide an information, support and signposting service to men suffering from domestic abuse from their current or former wife, partner (including same-sex partner) or husband.

This can range from physical violence or object throwing to abuse such as constant bullying or insults.

The helpline is a listening service which provides emotional support, practical information and signposting.

We receive calls from male victims of domestic abuse across all age ranges and professions:

* From dustmen and doctors, to, bankers and builders

* From men in their 20s to men in their 80s

* From men in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The helpline also welcomes calls from friends, family members, neighbours, colleagues and employers of male victims seeking information.

We also receive calls from support organisations, charities and statutory agencies such as local authorities and police forces.

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Male Victims of Domestic Abuse - Please call 01823 334244 to speak to us confidentially -

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Our confidential helpline is available for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence across the UK as well as their friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues and employers. We provide an information, support and signposting service to men suffering from domestic abuse from their current or former wife, partner (including same-sex partner) or husband.

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We have produced a booklet on explaining an NF1 diagnosis to your child by using our mascot Patches.

We are also happy to send out to hospitals,GP's and health visitors please contact us directly.
Click here to order the booklet

Tasana Shop is Selling our Merchandise

Offering a range of gifts and personalised items designed or made by Stacey at Tasana. I am passionate about fundraising so a minimum of 10% of all sales will be donated to a charity. The relevant charity and donation amount will be mentioned in each listing. I also work with Childhood Tumour Trust to provide their merchandise.

View our Online Shop

What is Neurofibromatosis?

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is more prevalent than Cystic Fibrosis, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and Huntingtons Disease combined.
Complications may include:

Tumours growing along nerves on the skin and inside the body

Bone Deformities/Scoliosis (eg Curvature of the spine)

Sight Problems/Blindness

Hypermobility/Mobility Issues

Read more...

What we offer

When your child is diagnosed with an incurable medical condition; your entire world is turned upside down! As a parent/carer you leave the hospital/doctors with your head in a whirl. Having a child who is diagnosed with any medical condition is hard to understand and deal with, but when your child has a diagnosis Read more...

CPD Module: Understanding neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)

How You Can Help

Make a one-off donation or pledge a monthly gift. Just £2 a month would make a difference.

There are many ways in which you can raise awareness and funds, both of which are so important.
Fundraising and Awareness Ideas:

Host coffee mornings

Change light bulbs to blue or green on global awareness day

Fun runs - great excuse to get in shape

Read more...

Case Studies

Nicole Martin

Nicole like many other children with NF1 had a very lonely and isolated childhood. She had no real friends and was often left on her own. It didn't help that she was in and out of hospital almost more than she was in school and with learning difficulties she was seen as different. It was heartbreaking, this was on top of struggling with the medical side of a large tumour causing her immense pain and mobility issues.

When Nicole was 14 she found a camp for children with NF in America, this camp was run by the Children's Tumor Foundation.
Read more...

Support and Information Group

If you are aged 25 and under and have Neurofibromatosis Type 1 or are closely related to someone under the age of 25 with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 we would love to welcome you to our friendly closed Facebook Support and Information Group full of parents and young people who know exactly what you are going through. For those older than this or with a different type of Neurofibromatosis we suggest you contact www.nervetumours.org.uk who will be able to help you, and if you live in Scotland www.funnylumps.org support familes with those under 18 affected by NF. Click here to join our Facebook Support and Information Group.

Sign up to our Mailing List

Donate and make a difference

Donate Online using the following

We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site you are consenting to our use of cookies, please click to read our cookie policy.

Cookie Policy Accept

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Childhood Tumour Trust - Supporting children, families affected by NF1

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We are also happy to send out to hospitals,GP's and health visitors please contact us directly. Click here to order the booklet Offering a range of gifts and personalised items designed or made by Stacey at Tasana. I am passionate about fundraising so a minimum of 10% of all sales will be donated to a charity.

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Welcome to Boxing Futures

We believe in the potential of every young person – even when they don’t believe in it themselves. We know they are capable of great things.

By changing lives through non-contact boxing and therapeutic talk sessions, we help these young people develop their physical and mental health, to build their resilience and self-esteem. We want to see these young people grow the confidence they need to go after their dreams, and live their lives to the full.

With your support, we can reach even more young people who really need someone fighting in their corner. Will you help show a young person there is another way?

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Boxing Futures | Fighting for better lives!

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Juvenis, a grassroots organisation in Lambeth whose vision is a future where all young Londoners have more than one chance to fulfil their potential.

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Juvenis | Support and advice for London's young people

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Juvenis | Support and advice for London’s young people

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Juvenis supports young people from vulnerable & disenfranchised communities & especially those at risk of offending and criminal behaviours.

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About abandofbrothers

The organisation was born out of concern at the continuing escalation of self-destructive and anti-social behaviour among young men from every section of society, together with the realisation that any meaningful and sustainable solution entails the reclamation of shared local responsibility.

One of the key ways

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Every boy needs a positive male role model

in their life, and especially during childhood.

This relationship is most commonly filled by

their dad but when this isn’t possible,

another significant man in a boy’s life could

take this place.

MAN&BOY offer a number of opportunities designed to build trust and confidence between men & boys, to create strong and positive relationships. The video gives you a flavour of how MAN&BOY works.

MAN&BOY currently operates in South West London and the Surrey areas.

Opportunities include: Weekend camping adventures, 6-week ‘MAN&BOY’ Relationship Building Courses - Climb and Connect courses, mentoring for fathers and reunion events for participants throughout the year.

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To inspire boys and men to become dynamic future men, by giving them the confidence to discover what it means to be a man.

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Happier and healthier men make for better brothers, partners, fathers, sons, colleagues and friends.

MensCraft is a Norfolk-based charity focusing exclusively on the health and wellbeing of men.  We support men facing life’s challenges or experiencing difficulties with their mental health.

We offer information, activities and programmes and provide one-to-one support and access to other specialist services. Our range of activities give men purpose, the opportunity for connection with others, and for improved wellbeing.

We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all, regardless of age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and faith.

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Statistics show that young boys who have no appropriate male role model, can struggle as teenagers and are at a higher risk of low self-esteem, dropping out of education, engaging in anti-social behaviour, substance abuse and crime.

The impact of the absent father on boys follows them into adulthood. These boys are at risk of growing into men who have problems with behaviour, emotional stability, relationships with significant others and even their own children.

We exist to address this huge social issue.

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The UK’s leading mental health sports charity and deliver physical activity (sport, walking, dance and movement, gardening and exercise sessions) projects in partnership with the amazing NHS in order to aid recovery, promote mental wellbeing, improve physical health, combat social isolation and empower people to move their lives forward in a positive direction.
Taking part in sport or physical activity regularly really does have a positive impact on both our mental and physical health. Some of the many benefits include:

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Sport in Mind - the UK mental health sports charity

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We’re Sport in Mind, the UK mental health sports charity. We’re here to use sport and exercise to improve the lives of children and adults experiencing mental health problems and combat suicide

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Suicidal and need help now?

The main focus is to create some safety. There are services which can help in a suicidal crisis

999 or 111

If you feel that you are in immediate danger of acting or have acted on your suicidal thoughts, don't hesitate - CALL 999 or 111 or go to your nearest A&E department.

Call the Samaritans on 116 123 who offer emotional support 24-hours a day. They are a listening services but do not advise or tell people what to do. Listen can be enough.

Call the CALM Helpline on 0800 58 58 58 (nationwide) or 0808 802 58 58 (London) who offer support to men from 5pm-midnight every day. They do offer advice on what to do.

Tell someone

Tell someone you feel comfortable talking to that you are having suicidal thoughts - send a message asking for their support. Letting others know can help to create safety

Contact your GP

If it is not an immediate emergency but you need advice and support contact your GP. They can link you in with more specialist services

NHS crisis resolution home treatment teams are the NHS service responsible for providing a response to people that are suicidal. These services are accessed via the GP or through A+E.

PDF booklet downloadable for free or available at £2.50 per booklet.
All proceeds go towards developing more interventions.
Email us if you'd like to order some.

If you are not in immediate danger but are struggling and have suicidal thoughts, below is a resource we hope might help.

​First of all, remember that you're not alone even if it feels like you are. Many people experience thoughts of suicide when they hit a point of crisis. Fortunately, there are many things that can help and people who want to support you.

Sources of support if you are suicidal

Friends and family can be a great source of support and are often the first place we find help. They often have useful ideas but they also might not have the answers. A next step might be to look to people who have been through similar experiences and managed to overcome struggles, contacting a helpline can be helpful, or some people may need to seek help from services, professionals and experts.

Deal with immediate dangers

Beyond your suicidal thoughts, there may be things that require your immediate attention and threaten your safety. For example, domestic violence, risk of homelessness, financial insecurity, and abuse. It's important that things are in place to mitigate any immediate dangers. Once the immediate risks are dealt with you can then take a step back and reassess what to do next.

How did I get here?

For some people it's hard to know how they reached the point of considering suicide and they might need the help of others to get to the crux of the problem. For others, particularly men, they may not be fully aware of a problem or be registering problems until they reach crisis point. This can partially account for why they may be more at risk of suicide.

Crisis events linked to suicide include:

We will all experience crises and will inevitably have to face challenging times in our lives. It's important to be prepared for how to deal with difficulties when they come, or to be open to exploring new ways of coping so that you have a range of strategies which can protect against suicidal thoughts.

There are things we do in reaction to crises that can be helpful but there are also things we do that unintentionally make the problems worse. Unfortunately, we've never been taught the best way to deal with challenges so it's common for people to struggle more than they need to.

Problem focused thinking and suicide:

How thought patterns contribute to suicidal ideation

When we experience a crisis, your mind will want to stay focused on the problem, searching for a solution. As humans, we're designed to give attention to threatening situations over pleasurable experiences in order to stay alive. But in some cases, this strategy can actually make the problem worse.

Thinking as our go to strategy for solving problems

The mind's natural response to problems is to think about how to resolve them. This is our go to strategy and because it usually works we believe that thinking will eventually solve the problem. This is not always the case and being stuck in these ways of thinking without finding solutions creates discomfort and confusion. It becomes a problem due to the negative impact it has on your mood. But, with the right tools you can learn to detach from problem focused thinking, give the mind a welcome rest and reboot the system so your mind starts seeing things in a more balanced way again.

Detaching from problem focused thinking

The key is to find moments when you can divert your attention away from the problems you face. This is hard to do because your mind wants to focus on them but it's essential in giving the mind a rest and keeping it functioning well. This can be hard to do during a suicidal crisis because our minds our desperately wanting to find a way to safety.

Distraction is a good technique if your thoughts are fused with problems. However, there are more technical ways of achieving relief through practices like mindfulness and attention training that have longer lasting benefits.

Emotional shutdown and suicide

How over-controlling emotions contributes to depressive withdrawal and isolation

For some people a suicidal crisis can provoke such a powerful response that they shutdown and numb feelings. Some people may have learnt to shut out emotions from an early age, so will have less awareness of their emotional experience generally.

Shutting down feelings when they become too intense offers relief from emotional distress and pain. However, we can't selectively shut out feelings. If we shut down one, we shut them all down, including feelings of joy and connectedness. Essentially we lose our enjoyment and pleasure, our sense of satisfaction and achievement, and our general connection with life.

We are often told from an early age that emotions are bad and men in particular are socialised to disconnect from their feelings. But this compromises our capacity to use feelings to our benefit and means we risk not noticing when problems arise. Shutting down emotions also leads to emotional isolation and lifelong loneliness which can be very painful. Men are also more likely to numb through drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, and other behaviours that make the problem worse. Many people who feel suicidal also feel depressed.

Essentially, we need to feel - but not too much!

Tops tips for emotional shutdown

Emotions are at the heart of suicidal thought, planning and intention to act

We know something is wrong because we feel it, but we don't know we have a problem if we can't feel things!

In our experience, not being in touch with our emotions, or feeling too much, drives suicidal thoughts, plans and intentions to act on them. It's not necessarily the problems themselves that people are trying to escape from when they consider suicide, but the way they are feeling or the absence of feelings. If you find yourself fighting or wanting to escape your feelings, you're going to experience problems. Similarly, if you've shut your feelings down or learnt to shut them out, you're going to experience problems.

When emotions become painful

For many people suicidal crises are accompanied with intense emotional responses. These feelings can persist and become more intense as we struggle to resolve them. Constantly doing battle with powerful emotions can lead to psychological problems and escalating emotional distress and pain. If things reach this point, your emotions become part of the problem and the difficulties managing leads to emotions being seen as a threat. This leads to more anxiety and fear.

Turn down the volume on emotions

If you're struggling with strong, intense and unabating emotions, it's time to start focusing on turning down the volume on them. Too much emotion impairs our mind's capacity to function effectively, making it less likely that we'll work through our problems. Emotions are designed to guide us, not harm us, and too much emotion will send us down the wrong path - we are more likely to react on impulse, make mistakes, and do things we might later regret.

Suicidal crises can consume your whole life, leaving little room for anything else.

When your mind and body are constantly trying to deal with threats to your wellbeing, your energy levels deplete, your appetite can be reduced, your sleep can become disrupted, and contact with other people can feel like too much effort.

When you don't feel able to do small tasks that were once easy, take it slowly. Trying to power on will end up leading to more feelings of frustration and hopelessness when you simply can't do what you expect of yourself. The most important thing right now is accepting what you can and cannot do and adapting to this.

Laying the right foundations for functioning

That might feel tough to accept, but rather than trying to function as normal, you might need to return to the basics. Building and maintaining the right foundations is key to refocusing and resetting when we feel lost or trapped. With strong foundations, other things in life will become easier to manage.

Everyone has certain things they need to do to be able to function effectively, like eating, drinking water, moving around, looking after our self care, remaining in contact with the outside world and sleeping well. These are all essential needs which are often compromised during difficult times. People often forget to do them when there are bigger issues around, but getting these essential things right can help to create solid foundations to get through difficult times.

Focus on the fundamentals

The concept of different levels of needs was introduced by psychologist Abraham Maslow and is a helpful reminder of how to build the right foundations for wellbeing.

In a suicidal crisis, it's important that you get the basics right first. You'll struggle to maintain functioning above the level of safety because crises in essence disrupt at this level - connecting with others will be difficult, feeling good about ourselves may not be easy, and functioning at a high level will be impaired, until the crisis resolves.

Strip things right back, do the essentials and stick with it. Don't expect too much from yourself and allow yourself to give a little less in other areas of your life until the crisis has passed. You do not have endless resources.

Actions which can unintentionally make problems worse

In a suicidal crisis, most of your behaviour will be focused on trying to deal with the problem until it's fixed, or in the absence of a fix you many instinctively feel like withdrawing or avoiding things. Below are some instinctual responses which can unintentionally make problems worse.

When people are under pressure and have stressors building up, they may try to power through. This might involve trying to do more to keep up, expecting themselves to be able to get everything done, continuing to try to impress others, or neglecting their need to rest. While it's possible to sometimes power on through, over long or intense periods it can lead to people burning out.

It's important to listen to how you are feeling and respond in ways that do amplify feeling or feed into ideas of ending our lives. If you feel things have got on top of you and you don't know what to do, are constantly focused on problems, feel trapped, helpless, or feel like giving up then it's time to get some help. Your life matters and difficult times do pass.

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I'm Feeling Suicidal: Mental Health Support for Men

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The Men's Minds Matter guide on what to do if you are suicidal. We offer you advice and tips on how to manage and cope in a suicidal crisis

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The Men's Health Forum is a British registered charity whose mission is to improve the health of men and boys in England, Wales and Scotland.

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Men don’t have access to the RIGHT conversations to help them overcome challenges & grow.

Despite having friends, family & coworkers around each day, most men don’t get to talk about what’s on their minds. Nor do we have healthy male role models to learn from. This peculiar isolation results in:

Challenges feeling more difficult to navigate

Pressure and overwhelm

Anxiety and depression

Rocky relationships

Poor boundaries (“Nice Guy Syndrome”)

Loneliness

A lack of results

Unhealthy behaviors & addictions (Porn etc)

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A men’s group will help you become a better man. Check out a mens group or our free discussion community to see if it’s a good fit for you.

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Offer free, life-saving support to men in suicidal crisis in Liverpool, London and Newcastle.
Their mission is to help men aged 18+ who are in crisis, by providing quick and free access to non-residential therapy and support. They offer an individualised person-centred intervention to men experiencing a suicidal crisis delivered over six to eight face to face sessions with a trained therapist at one of their centres in Liverpool, London or Newcastle. Men can self-refer or be referred by a health professional for short and focused one to one therapy which will help them to understand and recover from a suicidal crisis. James' Place aims to open two new centres in the next few years with Birmingham the next to open.

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Help for suicidal men in Liverpool and London

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Help for suicidal men in Liverpool and London. James' Place offers life-saving treatment for men in suicidal crisis.

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THE HUMEN SPACE: The Gym for Your Mind. Anonymous and non-clinical spaces for men to talk, listen and connect on a regular basis. Preventative, practical and plain speaking. No lingo or prescriptive advice. The Space where men talk honestly without risk of judgment or ridicule.

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THE HUMEN SPACE: The Gym for Your Mind. Anonymous and non-clinical spaces for men to talk, listen and connect on a regular basis. Preventative, practical and plain speaking. No lingo or prescriptive advice. The Space where men talk honestly without risk of judgment or ridicule.

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Suicide in England and Wales is three times more common among men than among women and the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45. Boys are often conditioned from an early age not to show emotion and taught to do so is a sign of weakness. When a boy grows into adulthood this conditioning can have such an effect, that men may often find it very hard to show emotions and talk about feelings, even with those closest to them and may also find it harder to visit their GP.

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Mens Support

Suicide in England and Wales is three times more common among men than among women and the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45. Boys are often conditioned from an early age not to show emotion and taught to do so is a sign of weakness. When a boy grows into adulthood this conditioning can have such an effect, that men may often find it very hard to show emotions and talk about feelings, even with those closest to them and may also find it harder to visit their GP.

Thankfully, over recent years, the message is beginning to get through, that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but knowing when you are not coping and need some support, and reaching out for support, is a sign of strength. I believe this has also been helped by well known personalities speaking out in public about their own depression and mental health and traumas they have been through, and hopefully this will continue to encourage men to seek help and support when they need it, rather than bottling up their emotions until they become overwhelming for them.

There are many mens groups which have started up providing safe spaces for men to talk to other men about their feelings and what is going on in their lives. Some of these are talking groups, some are groups where men get together and play sport, or go for walks, all as a way of friendship and helping each other to open up about what is going on in their lives and reaching out for that support when they need it. Some of the groups meet online so there is a diverse range of help and support out there.

Getting involved in a sport /physical activity is a good way to improve not only physical health but mental health and overall wellbeing, as well as being something fun to do, be around other people, reduces isolation etc. See entry for Sport In Mind in the resources, to check what activities may be held in your area. All sessions free of charge and equipment provided.

The following are some of the groups offering support, if you cannot see anything here covering your own area, please contact us by emailing info@supportline.org.uk

If you have been through, or are going through, domestic abuse, or sexual abuse, please see the relevant sections on our website under the Problems Section: ( Child Abuse Survivors, (specific section within it for males), Domestic Abuse (specific section within it for males ), Rape and Sexual Assault (specific section within it for males)

https://www.supportline.org.uk/

Andy's Man Club
https://andysmanclub.co.uk/
Men's Mental Health Support Groups running throughout the UK
Talking Groups for men who have either been through a storm, are currently going through a storm or have a storm brewing in life.

Dads Unlimited
01233 680150
https://www.dadsunltd.org.uk/
Supporting the emotional safety of men and those they care about.
Family separation support and male-victim domestic abuse support.
Dads Unlimited support the wellbeing of Dads through family separation with one-to-one mentoring, helping them to achieve a positive ongoing relationship with their children, reducing parental conflict and improving co-parenting relationships.
They also support male victims of Domestic Abuse in England and Wales to provide them with emotional and practical support, to reduce risk, increase safety, and protect them and their families from harm. See website for further details.

Directions for Men
07894 971 434
https://www.directionsformen.org.uk/
Directions For Men provides groups for men to come and talk about whatever it is that is affecting their mental health. They support each other through difficult times and they help each other by talking about what worked for us when we were going through difficult times. Directions For Men want to get men doing things they enjoy so they also get activities and events off the ground for you to attend and participate in and meet a new bunch of mates.What they do is called peer support. That is people with similar backgrounds and experiences looking out for each other.

Humen
https://www.wearehumen.org/
Mental health charity providing anonymous and non-clinical safe spaces for men to not only talk but to listen and connect on a regular basis. The HUMEN Space is preventative, practical and plain speaking. No lingo or prescriptive advice. Free one hour sessions where men get together to talk honestly, and actually be heard, in a confidential space without risk of judgment or ridicule. The right to talk should never be a privilege. Every Monday 6:30 PM for any man across the UK and online globally. See below for all HUMEN Space locations and The HUMEN Space Online.
https://www.wearehumen.org/the-humen-space/#second-text

James' Place
London: 020 3488 8484 Liverpool: 0151 303 5757 Newcastle: 0191 406 6000
https://www.jamesplace.org.uk/
Offer free, life-saving support to men in suicidal crisis in Liverpool, London and Newcastle.
Their mission is to help men aged 18+ who are in crisis, by providing quick and free access to non-residential therapy and support. They offer an individualised person-centred intervention to men experiencing a suicidal crisis delivered over six to eight face to face sessions with a trained therapist at one of their centres in Liverpool, London or Newcastle. Men can self-refer or be referred by a health professional for short and focused one to one therapy which will help them to understand and recover from a suicidal crisis. James' Place aims to open two new centres in the next few years with Birmingham the next to open.

MANUP
https://www.manup.how/
Men, talking to men. Change peoples thoughts, opinions and minds about men and mental health.
https://www.manup.how/mental-health-videos
Mental health videos. Educational and honest mental health podcasts that show real cases of mental illness or issues and their following success stories. Don't feel alone in your struggles with mental health or mental illness Therefore MANUP encourage you to watch their conversations for more information about how others have handled mental illness and achieved success by simply being aware of the flags. MANUP welcomes anyone who would like to join them in a mental health video or vlog, if this is you, please get in touch with MANUP

Men Matter Scotland
0141 944 7900
https://www.menmatterscotland.org/
Facilitate activities that support positive mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing for men.
Run weekly groups, sessions and activities, facilitated on a peer to peer basis where men can meet in a safe and friendly place, talk openly, feel supported and listened to without judgement within a confidential setting from people who are equal to you - your peers. The charity exists to promote wellbeing and to prevent suicide in men.

Mens Group
https://mensgroup.com/
Most men don't get to talk about whats on their minds which can lead to depression, anxiety, poor relationships. Find friendship, self development, online discussions, social events and more

Mens Health Forum
0330 097 0654
https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/
The Men's Health Forum is a charity supporting men's health in England, Wales and Scotland.

Men's Minds Matter
https://mensmindsmatter.org/help-me-im-suicidal/
Information and sources of support if you are suicidal

Men's Sheds Association
0300 772 9626
https://menssheds.org.uk/
Community spaces for men to connect, converse and create. They help reduce loneliness, and isolation and fun.
Why join a Men's Shed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmI8OckZjCc

Scottish Mens Sheds Association
https://scottishmsa.org.uk/

MenWalkTalk
https://menwalktalk.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/MenWalkTalk/
Matt started MenWalkTalk after realising the many benefits that come with getting outdoors and meeting new people, especially having other men you can speak to about the many things that Men go through. Currently MenWalkTalk groups meet across Sussex, Brighton, London, Devon and Bassetlaw, but new groups are starting regularly! The Charity wants to reduce the number of male suicides, and provide a community of support for guys to know they are not alone and they can speak up.

Men Who Talk
https://menwhotalk.org/
A registered charity working hard to improve the mental health and wellbeing of men across the UK.
For men 18+, free to access online spaces which provide men across the UK an opportunity to talk, socialise and receive support from other men, all whilst being supported by their excellent team of facilitators. Their spaces arejudgement free, supportive spaces for men to talk openly. They follow a peer-to-peer support model, which means they actively encourage all their group attendees to support one another, instead of relying on professionals. Their groups aren't therapy or counselling, but can provide a vital space to share, learn and socialise with other like minded men.

MindTheMen
https://mindthemen.co.uk/
MindTheMen are a suicide prevention peer support group where men (18+) can meet in a safe place to talk about their challenges, be listened to and feel supported. Support Groups are in the Glasgow area and also sporting and social activities are offered around the Glasgow area. Weekly zoom meetings also take place available to any man in Scotland.

Men Unite
https://menunite.org/
A group for men to support and encourage each other. If you've had a struggle in life, if you have had or are having addiction issues, drugs, drink, gambling, in debt, lost someone you loved, if you feel alone, if you're depressed, Unite Men want to help. They encourage visitors to join their FB private group with over 12,000 members and counting to discuss mental health, find support and be part of an inspiring network of men just like you.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/320358568677751/

Movember
https://uk.movember.com/about/mental-health
Working to reduce the rate of male suicide by 25%

My Black Dog
https://www.myblackdog.co/
A community-focused platform offering peer-to-peer conversations for people who are struggling with mental health challenges and trauma. Use their chat box when you don't know who to talk to. Whether you are experiencing uncertainties, feeling trapped, or simply curious, they are there to support you. Free, online, and available every day.

Sport In Mind
https://www.sportinmind.org/
The UK's leading mental health sports charity and deliver physical activity (sport, walking, dance and movement, gardening and exercise sessions) projects in partnership with the amazing NHS in order to aid recovery, promote mental wellbeing, improve physical health, combat social isolation and empower people to move their lives forward in a positive direction.
Taking part in sport or physical activity regularly really does have a positive impact on both our mental and physical health. Some of the many benefits include:

Helps us to cope with the stresses of daily life more effectively

Improves our physical health

Helps us maintain a healthy weight

Builds confidence and self-esteem

Meet new people and make friends

Improves concentration and sleeping patterns

Give you a natural energy boost

Reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety

Releases chemicals in your brain that makes you feel happy

Check out their Activity Map here to find sessions near you
https://www.sportinmind.org/find-an-activity

Check out the areas Sport In Mind currently cover, but they are expanding into other areas in the future
https://www.sportinmind.org/pages/category/timetables

The Proper Blokes Club
https://theproperblokesclub.co.uk/
A community project for men's mental health. the main aim is to break the stigma of men's mental health and start talking openly about it.
Exercise has been a proven way to help people with any sort of mental health issues by releasing endorphins that make you feel good about yourself. Walking is free so makes a great way to start and gets you out in the fresh air. Currently Walk and Talk groups in London and some surrounding areas but hoping to expand.

Men Speaking Out

Former footballer and counsellor David Lean speaks out about his traumatic childhood being groomed and abused by former Manchester City Scout, Barry Bennell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2gv2lxz2a8
Dele: "Now is the Time to Talk"
English Professional footballer Dele Alli
In this powerful episode of The Overlap, Gary Neville sits down to have a heartfelt conversation with Dele, as he courageously speaks about his recent circumstances on and off the pitch and the profound challenges he endured throughout his childhood and long-lasting effects of trauma it has caused him. Dele opens up about his recent battle with addiction and his remarkable journey of rehabilitation as well his unwavering aspiration to inspire those facing similar circumstances to speak up. Dele hopes his brave admission can inspire others to seek the help they need.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyDL9EUIdy0

The Voices of Men: Mens Mental Health Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0F1cICm9IM
Men speak about about depression, mental health, suicidal thoughts and the importance of speaking to others about how you feel.

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What we do

Directions For Men provides groups for men to come and talk about whatever it is that is affecting their mental health. We support each other through difficult times and we help each other by talking about what worked for us when we were going through difficult times.

Directions For Men want to get men doing things they enjoy so we also get activities and events off the ground for you to attend and participate in and meet a new bunch of mates.

What we do is called peer support. That is people with similar backgrounds and experiences looking out for each other.

When you arrive to see us you will be greeted by a smile and handshake and the offer of a brew to help settle any nerves or anxiety you have, we dont shine spotlights on people and you are free to talk as much or as little as you want.

Information & Communication

Including ongoing support for emotional wellbeing with preventative check-ins and longer term follow-up.

Personalised Care

Including as many mental health care options as possible, talking therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and mindfulness.

Peer Support

Including casual meet-ups with others who have a mental health condition, where they can help each other and talk about their issues.

When should I seek help?

Reach Out

Seeking help is often the first step towards getting and staying well, but it can be hard to know how to start or where to turn to. It's common to feel unsure, and to wonder whether you should try to handle things on your own. But it's always ok to ask for help – even if you're not sure you are experiencing a specific mental health problem.

READ MORE ...

5 ways To wellbeing

Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.

1. Connect

Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing.

1. Connect

Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing.

2. Be active

Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness.

2. Be active

Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness.

3. Learn

Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

3. Learn

Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

4. Take notice

Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing.

4. Take notice

Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing.

5. Give back

Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:

5. Give back

Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:

Reach out

Contact Directions For Men

Reach out

Contact Directions For Men

MOTIVATE FOR CHANGE Goals and Targets

Create goals that focus on your mental health. Remember, being the healthiest version of you means taking care of your body and mind which will, in turn, promote mental wellness and happiness.

Take care of your body & mind.

How you treat your body has a tremendous effect on your mental health, so make sure you’re taking care of it. Eat nutritious meals, drink lots of water, try and get enough sleep, and incorporate exercise into your daily routine.

Learn to say both Yes and No.

Pretending that something isn’t happening won’t make it go away. So, if you are feeling sad, anxious, angry, or depressed, try getting to the cause of your feelings rather than ignoring them.

Set Boundaries and use them.

Allow yourself to step out of your comfort zone, start saying yes more often to things that interest you and that you want to try and discover a whole new side to yourself. On the flip side, knowing when to say “no” is just as important.

Practice forgiveness.

Boundaries are crucial to your mental well-being, but establishing them is not always easy to do, especially if you have difficulty saying no to others.

Get Men Active

SURVEY Activities That Help

We asked some of our members to let us know what physical activities helped improve their mental health.

Walking 64%

Cycling 19%

Going to the gym 17%

OUR TEAM Here To Help

We're a group for men who are struggling. Whether its physical or mental health, debt, relationships or just not feeling themselves. We meet we talk about it and we help each other through.

Chris Judge

Founder/Managing Director

GET IN TOUCH Time to move forward?

As the saying goes:

The longest journey starts with a single step

Contact us today.

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Directions For Men - Support groups for men

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Man2Man is our telephone based peer support service from a trained StrongMen volunteer with first-hand experience of losing a loved one.

Men who contact StrongMen for support will be offered the opportunity to speak with one of our trained volunteers for a friendly chat. Each beneficiary will receive up to six weeks of peer support from StrongMen.

The service seeks to capitalise on the connection felt between two people with similar shared life experiences, simply knowing your volunteer has empathy with your situation maximises trust without fear of judgement.

All of our peer support volunteers have attended the StrongMen Weekender.

Register now
What is Peer Support?

Peer support is built on empathy based around shared experiences, focusing on your strengths, rather than weaknesses with the goal of achieving wellbeing and recovery. It may be social, emotional or practical support but, importantly, peer support is mutually offered and reciprocal, allowing you to benefit from the support whether you are giving or receiving it.

Though the language of peer support is relatively new in the UK, in practice self-help groups and mutual support has been around for many years. In Canada and the USA, peer support in its various forms has been a widely recognised and utilised resource that has been developing since the 1960s. In recent years there has been an increasing emphasis on the value of peer support in the UK.

Research has shown that peer-run self-help groups yield improvement in psychiatric symptoms resulting in decreased hospitalisation, larger social support networks and enhanced self-esteem and social functioning.

Peer support comes in a range of guises including listening, mentoring, education, tutoring and meditation, our service is based on "peer listening and discussion". Our volunteers have been trained in a variety of counselling skills including active listening, verbal and non-verbal communication, confidentiality and problem solving.
The benefits of peer support are wide ranging including the peer support workers themselves, helping improve their mental health, key to this being the increased empathy and respect that peer supporters have for the individuals they support. Providing and receiving support increases self-esteem, confidence and positive feelings that increase the ability to cope with mental health problems.

Peer support also has significant benefits to the NHS with earlier intervention relieving the pressure through reduced hospital admissions for those taking part.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there have been over 40,000 extra deaths in the UK alone. These families will be reaching out for support. In line with what we know about the way men seek support for bereavement, we expect men to put themselves last when it comes to helping their families deal with their bereavement. It is vital that a visible support service dedicated to men is available. We are already seeing male suicide numbers increase year on year and without direct action, this will continue to rise through 2021 and beyond.

Extra Time runs alongside Man2Man peer support service currently staffed by trained volunteers. Sometimes the needs of individuals fall outside the training and expertise that volunteers can provide, this is where Man2Man Extra Time steps in. Staffed by fully qualified Counsellors this service is provided over 12 sessions, designed, and administered to support those with complex needs and symptoms. Applications for Man2Man Extra Time are via the link above and will be triaged by our qualified and experienced team prior to commencement.

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Man2Man is our telephone based peer support service from a trained StrongMen volunteer with first-hand experience of losing a loved one.

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Key National Organisations - Male Domestic Abuse Network

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A list of the key national organisations and helplines who provide support to male victims of domestic abuse and those suffering from related crimes.

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The Male Victim Domestic Abuse Service is a bespoke support service for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence, including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour.

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This factsheet explains what a non-molestation order is, how it can protect victims of domestic abuse, and how to apply for one.

Men's Advice Line evaluation survey

Have you spoken to our Advisors? Tell us about your experience

Take our survey

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Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men | Men's Advice Line UK

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The Men's Advice Line is for male victims of domestic abuse. We offer confidential advice, non-judgmental support, practical information and help

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We are the UKs leading charity for autistic people and their families. Since 1962, we have been providing support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people.

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Action for Neurodiversity provides autism-specialist counselling to those who live with or alongside Asperger's syndrome/autism and who are struggling and in need of help, with counsellors who have additional experience (either personally or professionally) and/or additional qualifications in autism.

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Mental Health Foundation | Good mental health for all

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Explore information to help you understand mental health and get advice on how you look after your own mental health or support someone you know with theirs.

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We improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through our network of local groups and services, expert information and successful campaigning. Our goal is to make sure everyone severely affected by mental illness has a good quality of life.

Get advice and information

About mental illness

1 in 4 people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. People can, and often do, recover with the right treatment and support. Our advice and information pages can help you learn more about conditions, symptoms and diagnoses, so you or a loved one can get the help you need.

Living with mental illness

Living with a mental illness should not be a barrier to a good quality of life. Our advice and information pages contain all you need to know about getting the proper treatment and support for you or a loved one and what you can do if you feel the help you are getting is not right.

Rights and restrictions

If you experience mental illness or care for someone who does, it is essential to know your rights. Our information pages has advice on mental health laws, rights and restrictions, social care, welfare, and resources about the police, courts & prison service.

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No matter how bad things are, we can help.

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1 in 4 people will be affected by a mental health problem in their lifetime - we are here to support them when they do.

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TalkPlus - Free NHS CBT, counselling, therapy for Depression, Anxiety, Panic, OCD, and Phobias in Farnborough, Aldershot, Yateley, Blackwater, Farnham and Fleet.

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TalkPlus - Free NHS CBT, counselling, therapy for Depression, Anxiety, Panic, OCD, and Phobias in Farnborough, Aldershot, Yateley, Blackwater, Farnham and Fleet.

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Bro-ga - A New Class Arrives in Surrey

Bro-ga is a yoga class specifically designed for stiff, aching men who need the benefits of yoga but are perhaps put off by the false stereotypes and stigma of a traditional yoga class.

Back in 2018 I joined a What's App group of guys who took it in turns to host a yoga class. The instructor helped us inflexible lot to enjoy the benefits of yoga whilst not feeling out of our depth with the poses or embarrassed that we just couldn't manage many of them.

Around the same I turn started a group called Fitter Men, a daily early morning exercise class for busy city workers who really struggled to find time to exercise.

I noticed in both classes that the guys benefited not just from the physical side of the class but also the interaction and socialising after the class and this was a big part of the reason the men enjoyed the classes so much.

More recently we had the pandemic, which left us reliant on socialising and exercising via a screen. This in turn has led to a rise in mental health issues including depression, anxiety and loneliness. When I was able to take classes in person once more, I noticed just how much everyone appreciated the in-person interaction and connection once more and it's my belief that you can't replicate the experience and health benefits of actually being in others' company.

Last year I pitched my Fitness Tent, a training studio with breath-taking views over the countryside. The perfect environment to exercise, socialise and feel better. And that's when I decided I needed to run a yoga class just for men, to create a moment in their week to unwind, be mindful, relax, work on flexibility and core strength and have a laugh and chat too.

Bro-ga has been a huge success at helping guys to touch their toes and feel stronger and supple. It gets them out of the house to socialise with guys who are at the same place in life. Conversation is helped along a little by a cool box of cold alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers to quench thirst.

I have now been to a number of 5-week courses and they are really enjoyable. I didn't realise how much yoga was going to improve my core and balance. Great teachers with the bonus of a beer at the end of each session

I love the Bro-ga classes, it's the right level, right mix of people and a great teacher too

I wasn't sure at first, but my wife persuaded me. After seeing her leave the house with her yoga mat under her arm for years now, I wondered what the appeal was. I get it now. You feel amazing afterwards. All I'd say is give it a try....so glad I did

Together with my team of experienced yoga teachers, we run classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at The Fitness Tent in Chiddingfold and Clock Barn Studio in Hydestile and we are looking to expand Bro-ga to other areas in Surrey and Hants this year.

If you'd like to find out more about Bro-ga head to www.bro-ga.com.

Matt Jordan - the Energy Coach

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Bro-ga - A New Class Arrives in Surrey - The Energy Coach

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Bro-ga - A New Class Arrives in Surrey Bro-ga is a yoga class specifically designed for stiff, aching men who need the benefits of yoga but are perhaps put off by the false stereotypes and stigma of a traditional yoga class.

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Support for mental health at work | Able Futures Mental Health Support Service

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"I wish I'd picked up the phone years ago...reaching out for support was the very first step to a much safer and happier life." If you need help or advice Our Helpline - 01753 549865 - is open Monday to Wednesday from 9.30am until 2.30pm, Thursday- Friday 9.30am to 4.00pm.

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Services For Men

Your Sanctuary offers a specialist male service, which is available to men across Surrey. This is a community-based service which offers emotional and practical support, as well as information, advice and safety planning. Helpline: 01483 776822, 9am to 9pm, 7 days a week.

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Man Kind Initiative

The ManKind Initiative was the first charity in Great Britain to support male victims of domestic abuse (registered in 2001). Since then, they have been at the forefront of providing services and support for male victims and campaigning to ensure that male victims receive the support they need from other organisations. Their aim is to ensure all male victims of domestic abuse (and their children) are supported to enable them to escape from the situation they are in. Helpline: 01823 334244, weekdays 10am to 4pm.

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Men's Advice Line is a team of friendly Advisors who will listen and believe you. The team are available to offer you non-judgmental support, practical advice and information. Their focus is to increase the safety of men experiencing domestic abuse (and the safety of any children) by providing confidential support. Helpline: 0808 8010327, Mon–Fri 10am-8pm or email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk

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Helping you to find local care and support in Surrey to help you stay independent, healthy and connected to your community.

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In 2023 we announced the launch of the first of its kind - a Rotary eClub open exclusively to those affected by bipolar (people living with the condition, close family members or friends, or those with a keen interest in the cause).

Join to make friends - and make a difference

Launched on 10 August 2023, the Rotary Bipolar eClub is open to anyone affected by bipolar anywhere in the world.

Joining is a great opportunity to meet others affected by bipolar, to further the aims of Bipolar UK's partnership with Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland and to take advantage of opportunities offered through Rotary 's extensive projects and networks all over the world.

The eClub meets online every two weeks:

Business operations: 12-1pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month

Speaker slot: 8-9pm on the 4th Tuesday of each month

We are also planning optional occasional in-person social meet ups.

If you would like to join or find out more - please contact

Watch some of our past speaker slots

Mya-Rose Craig, environmentalist and author of 'Birdgirl'

In March 2024, Rotary Bipolar eClub hosted an exclusive conversation between ITV's Deputy Political Editor Anushka Asthana (Jones) and Bipolar UK ambassador, environmentalist and author of 'Birdgirl', Mya-Rose Craig.

They talked about supporting a close loved one with bipolar, and the benefits of birdwatching and spending time in nature.

Vijay Nallawala, author and founder, Bipolar India

In December 2023, Rotary Bipolar eClub heard from Vijay Nallawala, Author & Founder, Bipolar India. Vijay Nallawala is an entrepeneur, author and mental health advocate. In 2013, he launched Bipolar India as an online portal and community for those suffering from mental illness.

Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness

In November 2023, Rotary Bipolar eClub hosted an inspiring conversation between Major General Gregg F Martin USA (Ret.) and author of 'Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness' and Ivan Kennes, Rotary Bipolar eClub Treasurer and leader in the Learning and Assessment industry.
Last updated: 9 April 2024

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A Rotary Bipolar eClub open exclusively to those affected by bipolar

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Registered address: Part Lower Ground Floor, Gate House, 1-3 St. John's Square, London, England, EC1M 4DH
Registered charity no. England 1001957, Scotland SCO40009. Company registration no. 2580377

© Copyright 2022 We Are With You.

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We are a charity that offers free, confidential support to people in England and Scotland who have issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health