Mental Health Services: Men
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the level of barriers preventing men from accessing traditional mental health services.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government recognises that many men can face significant barriers to accessing traditional mental health services.
Evidence on engagement with mental health services is mixed. Findings from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey show that men with common mental health problems were as likely to be accessing treatment, including therapy. This demonstrates that many men are reaching out for support and emphasises the need for services to ensure they are responsive to men’s needs. Further information on the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey is available at the following link:
However, people with a mental illness can experience stigma, which can be a major barrier to seeking support. For severe mental illness, men were more likely to be admitted as an inpatient. This may be because men access secondary mental health services at a later or crisis stage, or present with a higher severity.
In November 2025, we published England’s first Men’s Health Strategy. It seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of all men in England, including by tackling men’s mental health.
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