New men's mental health pilot in Suffolk could become national blueprint
Suffolk Mind has teamed up with men’s mental health charity MANUP? and the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) to launch its “How Can We…?
A new series of mental health drop-in sessions for men in Suffolk is being hailed as a potential model for charities nationwide.
Suffolk Mind has teamed up with men’s mental health charity MANUP? and the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) to launch its “How Can We…?” pilot at the Hope Centre in Ipswich.
The 12-week programme, which began on September 23, focuses on the twelve physical and emotional needs that contribute to wellbeing, while aiming to strip away labels and stigma surrounding men’s mental health.
"A space for men to drop in and talk"
Ezra Hewing, Head of Mental Health Education at Suffolk Mind, said:
“We’ve been having conversations with other people and charities seeking to address men’s mental health, sometimes with a focus on trying to reduce male suicide.
"We finally agreed that we wanted to pilot a drop-in group called ‘How Can We…?’. It’s not badged or branded as a mental health support group, it’s more about providing a space for men to drop in and talk about any difficult thoughts or experiences they may be having, particularly during challenging life events like workplace transitions, relationship difficulties or bereavement.”
The sessions bring together support from Suffolk Mind, MANUP?, and the NHS, with each organisation offering a different perspective on how to make help more accessible for working-age men.
"Meet your needs, on your own terms.”
Hewing explained that the group aims to bridge a gap between extremes in how men’s mental health is currently approached.
“We’re not coming at it from a purely medical model where it’s prescription-only,” he said. “But we’re also not insisting people sign up to a masculinity retreat or a guru.
"This is a neutral middle ground, a space to talk about practical steps to better meet your needs, on your own terms.”
According to Suffolk Mind, the pilot is about creating a “middle way”, offering something more balanced than medication alone or alternative wellness approaches.
Hewing added:
“It’s early days. Our ambitions are more about taking a particular approach that might be useful elsewhere, rather than developing something that becomes a one-size-fits-all national network.”
"Too many men are falling through the cracks"
The sessions were inspired by Suffolk Mind’s “How Do We…?” event at Ipswich Town Football Club last year, where guests heard that as many as 90% of middle-aged men who die by suicide have been in contact with frontline services in the three months before their death.
Dan Somers, founder of MANUP?, said in the launch announcement:
“Too many men are falling through the cracks because support either feels too clinical or too detached from real life. That’s why MANUP? is funding this pilot, we want to prove that when you strip away the jargon and actually listen to men, you can create something that works.”
Gary O’Hare, Chief Operating Officer at NSFT, added:
“These sessions create a space that’s informal, practical, and grounded in real-life challenges. We’re proud to be part of a partnership shaped by what men truly need.”
The “How Can We…?” drop-ins take place every Tuesday from 10.30am to 12pm at the Hope Centre on St Margaret’s Street, Ipswich, until December 16.
More information can be found under the Events tab on the Suffolk Mind Facebook page