Supporting Men’s Mental Health This November
November is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month — a vital time to shine a light on the unique pressures men face, the stigma that still surrounds asking for help, and the importance of connecting with others. It’s also a powerful opportunity to raise awareness of how local support networks and platforms can make a real difference.
This year, we’d like to highlight the role of one such resource: the digital directory The Essex Map (www.theessexmap.co.uk). Whether you’re supporting friends, family or colleagues — or reaching out for yourself — The Essex Map is a centralised hub to find mental-health support across Essex, for men and anyone who needs support.
Why this matters
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Research shows that men are less likely to seek help for mental health problems compared to women.
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Many mental illnesses begin before the age of 25; early intervention matters. (Source: UK Parliament)
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In Essex, the mental-health support system is complex and can be difficult to navigate. (Source: UK Parliament)
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Platforms like The Essex Map help bridge that gap by putting many options in one place.
What The Essex Map offers
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A searchable, browsable directory of local services, groups and activities across Essex, tailored for a range of needs (community groups, peer support, wellbeing-activities).
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Support both for individuals looking for help and for groups/organisations offering support to get listed, so the network keeps growing.
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Sign-posting to services specifically designed for men (or all genders) — for example, courses like Men4Mental Health run by Essex County Council’s Adult Mental Health & Wellbeing team.
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A free, accessible, online resource: you can explore from home, pick what’s relevant and share it easily with someone you think might benefit.
How you can use it
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If you’re looking for help: Go to www.theessexmap.co.uk, enter your postcode or browse by category (e.g., “mental health – men”, “wellbeing groups”), and see what’s available locally.
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If you run or know a group: Consider getting listed on The Essex Map so others can find you. It’s a way to amplify your reach and make sure men who may otherwise struggle to access help can discover what you offer.
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For workplaces, community groups or families: Share the link internally, raise awareness during November (and beyond) about men’s mental health, and encourage people to check what support exists locally.
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For men’s health conversations: Use this month as a prompt — have a check-in with yourself and others: How am I doing? What’s my support network? What local resource could I connect with if needed?
Practical suggestions for this month
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Choose one day this November to pause and reflect: maybe take 10 minutes to check The Essex Map for local support.
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Organise a small group chat (among colleagues, friends or in a men’s group) about mental health: what it means for each of you, what support is out there, what stops you asking for help.
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Share a local group listing or resource from The Essex Map with someone you know — you don’t need to be a mental health professional to sign-post.
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Make a “wellbeing plan”: simple actions like getting outdoors, regular sleep, talking to someone when things feel heavy — and “if it escalates, here’s the link to The Essex Map”.
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month is more than a campaign—it’s a chance to open the door to conversations, break down barriers and connect people with tangible support. The Essex Map gives us a practical way to locate that support right here in our community.
If you’re navigating tough times — or know someone who is — visit www.theessexmap.co.uk, explore what’s available, and remember: you don’t have to go it alone.
Let’s make this November count. Let’s talk. Let’s reach out. Let’s use what’s available.
Together, we can build stronger connections and healthier lives.