NHS 'not fit for purpose' for men, says Ipswich charity boss

Why it matters: Dan Somers, who founded MANUP? in 2019, says he receives hundreds of messages a month from men seeking support – and argues the system meant to help them is failing.

"When it comes to mental health, [the NHS] is not fit for purpose for men – we need to overhaul everything," he said.

The details: A council report published earlier this month found emergency hospital admissions for intentional self-harm among men rose by nearly 30% in Suffolk in the 2023/24 financial year.

• The spike pushed Suffolk's admission rate significantly above the national average, having been lower than or on par with it since the 2010s.
• The report said true numbers are likely even higher, as many men do not disclose self-harm due to stigma.

By the numbers: Women are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital following self-harm, but men accounted for three out of every four registered suicide deaths.

• Data from the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide, Homicide and Safety in Mental Health showed nearly half of all mental health patients had been in contact with services in the week before death.
• The risks of self-harm and suicide are even higher for gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men.

What they're saying: Somers said men were already reaching out for help in large numbers, despite public messaging suggesting otherwise.

"Society wants men to talk, but I'm getting [messages from] hundreds of men every single month, showing that they're talking," he said.

Somers said he had kept quiet about his own struggles after being "ghosted" by health services several years ago.

"We always want men to talk, but if you really want a man to talk, you have to be prepared to listen to what he's saying," he said.

Jon Neal, chief executive of Suffolk Mind, described the figures as "concerning" and said asking difficult questions directly could help save lives.

"What is clear is that we are missing opportunities to ask people directly about suicide before tragedies occur," he said. "It may sound forward, but feeling able to ask someone 'are you having thoughts of suicide?' can be an incredibly important step should someone appear to feel trapped or alone with the problems they are facing."

The other side: A Suffolk County Council spokesperson said the authority was working with partners to improve awareness, strengthen prevention and ensure support is accessible and responsive to men's needs.

Eugene Staunton, a director at NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board (ICB), said the board would use the report to inform its plan. The ICB commissions several services, including Talking Therapy, which is open to self-referral, and is planning to expand its mental health schools teams to cover all Suffolk schools and colleges by April 2030.

The bottom line: As self-harm admissions among men climb sharply in Suffolk, charity leaders say the real test is not whether men are willing to talk, but whether services are prepared to listen.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, support is available via Suffolk Mind's help directory.

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