Home 5 Latest News 5 “Help is there for you” – Mayor David Skaith on International Men’s Day

York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith is today raising awareness of the issues and inequalities facing men on International Men’s Day, with a call for more men and boys to access key support services to help improve their mental and physical health.

International Men’s Day exists to highlight a range of issues faced by men and boys worldwide, and raise awareness of the actions they can take if they are seeking help.

Many services commissioned by the Mayor through his Violence Against Women and Girls strategy are also available to male victims of crime, offering crucial advice and support.

The mayor wants to see better promotion of services available for men and boys, who face a number of  barriers in accessing vital services.

  • Mental Health – 13 men lose their life to poor mental health every day, representing 77% of the UK total.
  • Prostate Cancer – The second most common cause of cancer death in males in the UK, with 1 man dying every 45 minutes.
  • Life Expectancy – 1 in 5 UK men will not live to the age of 65.
  • Academic Attainment – Official statistics show a relative underachievement of boys in school, and disproportionately low levels of progression to higher education
  • Criminal Justice – Men make up 96% of the prison population.
  • Statistics show that over a million men were victims of domestic violence and sexual assault between 2021 and 2023.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:

“International Men’s Day is a reminder of how vital our support services are to everyone, including men and boys. I want to make it clear that help is there for you, you’re not alone. We have a range of support available in York and North Yorkshire, so please look into them if you feel you need it.

“It is no secret that a staggering number of men lose their life due to poor mental health. These stats, combined with my own mental health journey, has spurred me on to raise awareness for men’s mental health.

“This month, I have been running 5km everyday to raise awareness for Menfulness, a men’s social wellbeing group in York that provide activities and counselling for men struggling with their mental health. As Mayor I want to build heathy and thriving communities where people can make use of our beautiful outdoor spaces. An active lifestyle, getting outdoors, and making sure I keep talking, have been the best things I have done for my mental health. There are so many options for support, for a range of issues, so please, don’t face your problems alone.”

1 in 3 victims of reported domestic abuse are male, and many services commissioned by the Mayor via the York and North Yorkshire Office for Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning include support for victims of these crimes.

This includes the Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) Service, counselling services, and restorative justice services. These are all made available to anyone who needs them, including men and boys.

You can find more details about our commissioned services here: Commissioned services – York & North Yorkshire Office for Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning (northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk)

Alongside these commissioned services, there are also a wide range of organisations providing support for issues facing men and boys:

  • Men & Boys Coalition (menandboyscoalition.org.uk)
  • Talk Club – UK male mental health charity.
  • Andy’s Man Club – A men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online.
  • BaggyTrouserUK – A survivor-led charitable incorporated organisation that exists to make a positive impact on the lives of boys and men who have been affected by Testicular Cancer.
  • Ben’s Place North Yorkshire – A small charity whose primary aim is supporting men and boys who have suffered childhood sexual abuse, grooming, sexual violence, rape and domestic abuse.
  • The Better Days for Men Foundation – A charity that aims to provide advice, information, support and ultimately hope to men who have fallen on hard times and are suffering hardship.
  • Movember – The leading men’s mental health charity in the UK, working on issues including mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

Movember have a further extensive list of support available in the UK for men who may be struggling with their mental or physical health: Movember – Men’s Health.

The following services are also available for men who need help but are not in danger:

Published on Tuesday 19 November