The first Interim Report from a national research project examining community-based programmes aimed at mental health improvement and suicide reduction among men and boys is calling for a step change in medical, educational and government attitudes.

The Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys (CPRMB) launched the research with enabling funding from the Randal Foundation.

Fourteen men and boys take their own lives in Britain every day and it is the most common cause of death for men under fifty.  Suicide kills more men than the total number of people who die on the country’s roads each year.  The research is looking into the work and efficacy as well as scalability of groups such as Space North East, Menfulness and Dope Black Dads.

While at an early stage in the research process, this first report has reached a number of conclusions in terms of official organisations’ approaches to the sector.  They need to see community-led, non-clinical initiatives as part of a wider ecosystem of care, the value of which is beyond that offered by formal services; that is creating low-pressure, repeated, familiar opportunities for men to reconnect, build trust and move towards help on their own terms.  Commissioning and funding should be proportionate to the scale and stage of organisations and for small groups and immediate demands for sophisticated evaluation, complex governance paperwork or clinical reporting may be counterproductive.  Some organisations may be able to expand geographically or increase participation. Others may be most valuable when they remain small, local and culturally specific.

Lead researcher, Dr Dimitrios Panayotopoulos-Tsiros from University College London, explains, “This interim report makes a largely invisible field visible.  Across England, community-led non-clinical interventions in men’s wellbeing are doing vital preventative work, but they remain unevenly distributed, unevenly supported and still poorly understood.  The report sets out the foundations for understanding how these organisations operate, who they reach, and what allows them to become effective and sustainable, so that policy can strengthen this infrastructure without damaging the trust and local fit that make it work.”

The ongoing research is only possible thanks to the support of the Randal Foundation, the Founder and Chairman of which, Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL, says, “The Randal Foundation is deeply committed to improving mental health outcomes and supporting initiatives that create lasting positive change.  Too many boys and men are struggling in the UK, and every week almost 100 men die by suicide. That simply must change.  By investing in this innovative research, we aim to help shape policies and interventions that empower and scale community organisations delivering effective approaches, on the front line. Many existing organisations are playing a critical role in this space but there are simply too few, and those which exist face serious funding challenges.  Community-led organisations have built great expertise and can offer timely and targeted support, to materially reduce the risk of suicide.  A deep understanding of what works in terms of prevention is key to next steps, and our research, led by CPRMB is helping reveal the many different ways men’s mental ill-health can be bolstered and improved.”

Chair of the CPRMB, Professor Roger Kirby says, “This initial interim report marks a first important step on a long road which we hope will end not only in greater institutional support for the many organisations that are making such a vital contribution men’s mental health, but the right kind of support, based on the evidence.  We at the CPRMB would like to reiterate our thanks to the Randal Foundation for their incredible generosity in supporting this research.  Who knows how many lives it might end up saving?”

The next phase of the research will involve interviews, focus groups and observation of various groups, to develop a greater understanding of how they actually work.  It’s hoped this will inform future policy at all levels.

The report can be downloaded here: Interim Report

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