Time to Talk Day: A Straight-Talking Session on Men's Mental Health

Time to Talk Day in February 2026 is all about breaking the stigma around talking about mental health. We're starting that conversation early with a focused, practical, no-fluff session looking specifically at men's mental health.

The numbers don't lie. Suicide is the single leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK. In 2023, the male suicide rate hit 17.4 deaths per 100,000, the highest since 1999. Yet men are nearly twice as likely as women to describe their mental health as 'excellent'. That gap between perception and reality? That's the problem we need to address.

Here's the thing: this isn't about long therapy sessions or pouring your heart out. It's about checking in. Actually checking in. Not the "you alright, mate?" followed by "yeah, sound" exchange we all know too well. We're talking about real conversations that might just save someone's life—maybe even your own.

Community matters more than you think. Whether it's your work crew, your mates from five-a-side, or the lads you've known since school, these connections are protective factors. They're the safety net we often don't realise we need until we're falling. But here's the catch: those connections only work if we actually use them. If we actually talk.

The barrier? 22% of people say perceived stigma is the most significant barrier to accessing mental health care. For men specifically, there's this expectation to appear strong, in control, emotionless. But strength isn't suffering in silence. Strength is recognising when something's off and doing something about it.

So how do you start? First, ditch the "how are you?" if you genuinely want to know how someone is. Try these instead:

• "You seem a bit off lately. What's going on?"

• "Noticed you've been quiet. Want to talk about it?"

• "You doing alright? And I mean actually alright."

When you get the inevitable "I'm fine," don't leave it there. Follow up with:

• "You sure? Because you don't seem yourself."

• "Fine as in actually fine, or fine as in you don't want to talk about it?"

• "What's fine looking like for you right now?"

Sometimes the ask isn't enough. Sometimes it's about being there, consistently, until someone's ready to talk. It's about creating space where vulnerability isn't weakness, it's just honest.

Because the reality is this: men aren't fine. The statistics prove it. But talking about it? That's where change starts. Not in therapy rooms or Doctors' surgeries (though they're crucial too), but in everyday conversations. In checking in. In actually listening to the answer.

Join us for the first in our BMR free webinar series for 2026. Get the conversation starters, learn to spot the signs, and understand why a simple check-in could be the most important thing you do this year.

This is the kick-off to our 2026 webinar series, designed to give you practical tools you can actually use. Ahead of Time to Talk Day, we're making sure you're equipped for the conversations that matter.

This webinar is 30 minutes. Straight-talking. No corporate jargon. No endless slides about wellness frameworks. Just practical tools you can use the moment you log off. Whether you're checking in on yourself, your colleagues, or the men in your life, this session cuts through the noise and gives you what actually works.

To register, email kirstine@bmrhealthandwellbeing.co.uk

Because the men in your life, including yourself, deserve better than "I'm fine."