Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help improve men's mental health.

Men with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they deserve, which is why we will fix the broken system to ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health.

As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government will recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, which will also help ease pressure on the busy mental health services.

NHS Talking Therapies, which include cognitive behavioural therapy, provide treatment to men, with common mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. They can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies services, or be referred by their general practitioner.

Suicide is one of the biggest killers of men aged 45-64, and we are committed to tackling this, while ensuring they live well for longer.

The Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2023-2028 was published in September 2023, with over 130 actions identified to reduce the suicide rate within five years (with initial reductions to be seen in 2.5 years). The strategy has identified middle aged men as a priority group and targets common factors such as financial difficulty, gambling and loneliness.

Across England, 79 organisations, ranging from local, community-led organisations through to national voluntary, community or social enterprises, have been allocated funding from the £10 million Suicide Prevention Grant Fund and are delivering a broad and diverse range of activity that will prevent suicides and save lives. Successful recipients of the grant fund include Lancaster Men’s Hub, Mankind UK and the UK Men’s Sheds Association through to March 2025.