The mental health of men in the UK workforce has come under fresh scrutiny following a revealing survey. Conducted as part of the Bupa Wellbeing Index, the study of 8,000 adults found that half of the male respondents have encountered mental health difficulties. More tellingly, 43% of these men are urging their employers to offer greater support, highlighting a gap between need and provision that businesses can no longer ignore.
The findings expose deeper challenges. A third of men confessed they don’t know who to turn to when their mental health falters, while 65% of employees surveyed believe a stigma still clings to men’s mental well-being. This persistent cultural barrier, rooted in outdated notions of resilience, continues to deter many from seeking help, leaving them to wrestle with their struggles in silence.
Nathan Shearman, a psychotherapist and director of therapy and training at Red Umbrella, has stepped into the conversation with practical insights. “While the results are quite shocking, they are not altogether surprising,” he said. He points out that even the most supportive companies, with robust policies and positive environments, can’t shield employees from external pressures that seep into their working lives. “No matter how good your company might be at having supportive policies, reducing risk factors for poor mental health and creating a positive work environment, which are all important, there will always be employees affected by things outside of your business control that impact their work,” he explained.
Shearman sees a clear role for employers. “Regardless of what it is, employees are looking to their employers more and more to provide those avenues of support,” he noted. He advocates a blend of proactive and reactive measures, suggesting that training to prevent issues and counselling to address them are both essential. “This means that both proactive support, like training, and reactive support, such as counselling, are both a part of the solution,” he said, adding that having mental health first aiders or access to therapy could meet the needs laid bare by the study. “The study shows the importance of having mental health support in the workplace,” he affirmed.
The stigma remains a stubborn obstacle. “We still know that men find it hardest to reach out for support for their mental health,” Shearman observed. “The stigma around men’s well-being and the tendency to just ‘man up and get on with it’ continue to act as barriers to males feeling able to get support.” He believes employers can counter this by raising awareness and being open about workforce challenges. “Increased awareness and transparency from a business perspective around where the challenges for your workforce lie can go a long way to improving the wellbeing of your employees,” he said. For Shearman, a joined-up approach, building on existing support while adding targeted services, is the key to breaking down barriers, especially for men.
