Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Men’s Mental Health Care: North-west England

Tuesday 9 June 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister announced a partnership with the Premier League to improve mental health literacy.
  • Investment of up to 3.6 million in suicide prevention support pathfinders programme in the north-west.
  • NHS and council partners are supporting delivery through services like Thrive, Think Ahead, and talking therapies.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Elsie Blundell Lab Heywood and Middleton North
Mental Health
Context

The suicide rate among men in the north-west is high, and there are concerns about the lack of support for men seeking mental health services.

Question

What steps he is taking to improve men's mental health care provision in the north-west. I welcome the publication of the men's health strategy, especially the measures designed to improve mental health outcomes. The recommendations need to be implemented quickly, especially in areas like mine where deprivation continues to affect the health of men and boys.

Answer from Preet Kaur Gill

Through our men's health strategy, we have launched a partnership with the Premier League to improve mental health literacy and invested up to £3.6 million in suicide prevention support pathfinders programme in high-risk areas including the north-west. Locally, NHS and council partners are supporting delivery through services such as Thrive, Think Ahead and talking therapies, alongside community initiatives like Male Health Survivors @ The Dale and Andy's Man Club Rochdale.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Elsie Blundell Lab Heywood and Middleton North
NHS Mental Health
Context

The suicide rate among men in the north-west is high, and there are concerns about the lack of support for men seeking mental health services. A recent report highlighted that deprivation continues to affect the health of men and boys.

Question

What practical steps are being taken to implement those measures, especially in areas such as mine, where deprivation continues to affect the health of men and boys?

Answer from Preet Kaur Gill

Locally, NHS and council partners are supporting delivery through services such as Thrive, Think Ahead and talking therapies, alongside community initiatives such as Male Health Survivors @ The Dale, and Andy's Man Club Rochdale. We also have a mental health call for evidence which is live until 10 July to seek practical examples to tangibly improve outcomes and inform our mental health strategy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not specify concrete steps being taken in areas of high deprivation specifically.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Mental Health
Context

The suicide rate among men in Cumbria is twice the national average. One of the contributing factors is isolation and rurality, particularly affecting farmers who face significant stress and anxiety with no support.

Question

Would the Minister be willing to meet me and the Farmer Network as we seek to deliver mental health answers for people struggling? Some 25% of farmers are below the poverty line, often isolated and dealing with transition at times of enormous stress and anxiety with nowhere to turn. Would the Minister agree to meet so that we can address this particular cause of the appalling tragedy in our county?

Answer from Preet Kaur Gill

We have invested an extra £3.6 million in suicide prevention work in the most deprived parts of England where men face the greatest risk of suicide, partnering with the Premier League's Together Against Suicide initiative to meet men on their terms so that they do not suffer in silence.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not confirm a meeting or concrete steps for farmers specifically.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)