Men’s Mental Health Week is a timely reminder to stop and look after yourself, because Mental health matters for everyone.
Creating space to reflect, recharge, and reconnect with what’s important can make all the difference and that's exactly what a recent workshop, led by Dawn Bere, the Foundation’s Youth Counsellor and Wellbeing Lead, set out to do.
Delivered as part of the Engage+ programme, a partnership between the Foundation and Northampton College, the session introduced young people to the Work-Life Balance Wheel, a practical tool for checking in with different areas of their lives.
The statistics speak for themselves, according to the BUPA Wellbeing Index, 50% of men have struggled with mental health difficulties at some point, yet fewer than half have sought medical advice.
Whilst Young Minds reported there were 34,793 emergency, very urgent or urgent referrals to child and adolescent mental health services crisis teams between April and October 2024.
These figures underscore the critical need for early intervention, open conversations, and accessible tools like the work-life balance wheel.
The wheel, which the Foundation has made available to download so you can complete it yourself, prompts reflection on vital areas such as sleep, diet, exercise, family time, and emotional wellbeing. Using a simple 0–100 scoring system, young people assessed how balanced each area of their life felt.
"Self-care is not selfish," Dawn told the group. "It’s really important."
Participants shared honest insights, realising the impact of unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, and lost priorities on their mood and wellbeing during the session.
To help maintain balance, Dawn also shared her top 5 tips:
- Prioritise what matters - Everyone’s priorities are different. Identify yours.
- Plan, but stay flexible - Life can be unpredictable; adaptability is key.
- Set boundaries - Protect your time and energy.
- Recharge regularly - Nature, rest, and hobbies all support wellbeing.
- Talk it out - Don’t carry struggles alone. Sharing lightens the load.
While this initiative aligns with Men’s Mental Health Week, its message is universal: when we take time to reflect and rebalance, we empower ourselves to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.
To download your free resource please click here.
