Following last year's hugely successful Mental Health Forum, which explored the impact of smartphones and social media on young people's mental health, this year Dr Caroline Rayment and I agreed it was so important to keep the conversation going, but this time focusing on men and boys. Men and young boys face a silent crisis in mental health, shown nationally by high suicide rates and rising loneliness. Unfortunately, to many boys often grow up learning to hide their feelings instead of asking for help, and many existing services often fail to reach men before a mental health and wellbeing crisis happens. That is why it is so important to acknowledge this challenge and work together to address it, so that men and boys get the attention they rightly deserve. It was great to recently cohost and jointly organise again our second Mental Health Forum in Ilkley, this time specially focusing on men and boys’ mental health. The event brought together approximately 70 professionals from across the healthcare, education, and mental health sectors to have an honest conversation about what is going on in this space, what levels of support are needed, and what are the barriers. We had a great set of speakers, including Dr Luke Evans MP, a long-standing advocate for men's mental health, Dr Tom Bewick, a local GP, Simon Ford, Deputy Headteacher at Ilkley Grammer School, Anthony Casson, Strategic Coordinator for Bradford Council Youth Services and Lisa Stead, the Clinical Lead for Mental Health Support Team for the Bradford District. Their time, expertise, and commitment to supporting young men and boys in our area is invaluable and it was great to hear them share their views. More than anything, the event was aimed at bringing together experts in our community, share experiences, and ensure that we are working collaboratively – rather than in isolated silos – to provide stronger and more holistic support for local young men and boys. I firmly believe that we need dedicated national attention on this issue, which is why a Minister for Men would help focus government policy, provide leadership in this space, direct vital funding and help break the stigma that stops men from speaking out.

Men and young boys face a silent crisis in mental health, shown nationally by high suicide rates and rising loneliness. Unfortunately, to many boys often grow up learning to hide their feelings instead of asking for help, and many existing services often fail to reach men before a mental health and wellbeing crisis happens. That is why it is do important to acknowledge this challenge and work together to address it, so that men and boys get the attention they rightly deserve. It was great to recently cohost and jointly organise alongside Dr Caroline Rayment, a local GP, a second Mental Health Forum in Ilkley, this time specially focusing on men and boys’ mental health. Following last year's hugely successful Mental Health Forum, which explored the impact of smartphones and social media on young people's mental health, this year Dr Rayment and I agreed it was so important to keep the conversation going, but this time focusing on men and boys. The event brought together approximately 70 professionals from across the healthcare, education, and mental health sectors to have an honest conversation about what is going on in this space, what levels of support are needed, and what are the barriers. We had a great set of speakers, including Dr Luke Evans MP, a long-standing advocate for men's mental health, Dr Tom Bewick, a local GP, Simon Ford, Deputy Headteacher at Ilkley Grammer School, Anthony Casson, Strategic Coordinator for Bradford Council Youth Services and Lisa Stead, the Clinical Lead for Mental Health Support Team for the Bradford District. Their time, expertise, and commitment to supporting young men and boys in our area is invaluable and it was great to hear them share their views. More than anything, the event was aimed at bringing together experts in our community, share experiences, and ensure that we are working collaboratively – rather than in isolated silos – to provide stronger and more holistic support for local young men and boys. I firmly believe that we need dedicated national attention on this issue, which is why a Minister for Men would help focus government policy, provide leadership in this space, direct vital funding and help break the stigma that stops men from speaking out.