Men’s mental health and the cost of government inaction

To the relief of many advocates in the space, mental health is no longer a fringe issue in public debate, but rather a mainstream concern shared across political lines.

People seemingly dismiss it more often than ever as a sign of “wokeness” or say “we just got on with it” in their day, and as frustrating as this is, it also shows that mental health is really at the forefront of public discussion. 

Yet despite growing awareness, gaps persist between what people need and what systems provide. Recent calls from campaigners, including activist Alastair Campbell, suggest that the government is “missing a trick” when it comes to mental health. Now far be it for me to advise taking Campbell’s word as gospel, he’s a PR man who still stands by the Iraq War. 

But Campbell has been refreshingly honest about his struggles with mental health and he clearly believes in using his platform to highlight the importance. I will listen to what he has to say on this. 

Nowhere is this “missing trick” more visible than for the crisis point men have reached.

A large-scale survey of over 4,000 adults found that 75% of people in Britain want the government to do more to improve mental health services. That figure alone signals this politically divisive issue - which is increasingly rare these days. It is an even rarer shared priority. 

Despite this, access to timely and effective mental health support remains inconsistent for many blokes and they are less likely to access services, even when they are struggling.

This is why campaigns like Head On, backed by over 20 organisations, are frankly really important. Their central message is one that sticks out - likely because it is so seldom said.

Head On believes mental health should be treated with the same seriousness as physical health. For men, this parity is critical. A broken bone is visible and treated urgently; depression or anxiety often is not. Yet the consequences can be even more severe.

The current system is under pressure. NHS data shows that more than 2.1 million people were in contact with mental health services as of February, reflecting rising demand. While this increase may partly indicate improved awareness and diagnosis, it also exposes the aforementioned gaps in early intervention and accessibility. 

There is also a broader concern around how mental health is framed at a policy level. Comments from the Health Secretary earlier this year suggesting potential “overdiagnosis” risk undermining trust in the system, particularly for those already unsure about coming forward. 

What campaigners are calling for is smarter, more responsive care. Faster access to treatment, community-based support, and services designed to meet people where they are. 

The government has outlined steps including increased funding, workforce expansion, and a shift toward community care. These are important developments. But the scale of the challenge demands urgency.

The public has made its position clear. The question now is whether policymakers will match that demand with action.