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Why I Support Menfulness

Published 1 March 2026 · 4 min read

I'm an electrician. I spend my days solving practical problems, dodgy wiring, tripping breakers, installations that need to work first time. But there's one problem I can't fix with a multimeter, and it's one that affects more people in my industry than most would like to admit.

Men's mental health.

The trades aren't great at talking

If you work in the trades, you'll know the culture. You're expected to crack on. Get the job done. Don't make a fuss. And most of the time, that attitude serves you well. But it's also the reason a lot of blokes don't say anything when things aren't right at home, or in their head, or in their life.

Three-quarters of all suicides in the UK are men. Only 36% of NHS talking therapy referrals are for men. These aren't abstract numbers, they're fathers, brothers, colleagues, mates. People you'd see on site every day and never know they were struggling.

What Menfulness does

Menfulness is a York-based charity run by five blokes who've been through it themselves. They run weekly and monthly events across York: walk and talk sessions, football, running, boxing, board game nights, coffee afternoons, and dedicated talking groups. Everything is informal, relaxed, and open to any man. There's no pressure to share your life story, you can just turn up, kick a ball around, and see how it feels.

Why it matters to me

I run a one-man business. I'm on the road every day, in people's homes, solving problems. It's rewarding work, but it can also be isolating. There's no team around the kettle at 10am. Supporting Menfulness is my way of saying that it's okay to not be okay. It's not weak to speak up.

How you can help

Turn up to an event. Check their Meetup page for what's on this week.

Share the word. If you know someone who might benefit, send them a link.

Donate. They're a registered charity (number 1199085) and every bit helps them keep running events and offering free counselling.

Visit menfulness.org to find out more.