More than a machine: Supporting men’s mental health through coaching

Multi-award-winning wellbeing and mindset coach, counsellor and trainer, Claire Reeves, speaks about a subject close to her heart: men’s mental health.

It was a timely reminder that behind the statistics are colleagues, partners, friends, and family members - many of whom are quietly struggling.

For employers, leaders, and business owners, the conversation is no longer optional.

Supporting men’s wellbeing is not just a “nice to have” - it’s central to building sustainable businesses and healthy communities.

Why men’s mental health matters to business

Running a business is demanding.

The pressure to succeed, provide, and constantly perform can take its toll on anyone.

But for many men, these pressures are compounded by unspoken expectations to be the strong one, the problem-solver, the provider - often at the expense of their own wellbeing.

Claire highlighted how many of the men she works with are so focused on supporting others that they neglect themselves in the process.

While this can look like resilience on the surface, it often masks burnout, stress, and isolation.

Claire said: “The more men invest in their own health, growth, and development, the better equipped they are to manage stress and anxiety, give their families what they need, and move their businesses forward in a sustainable way.”

From a business perspective, the stakes are high. Stress-related illnesses are a leading cause of absenteeism in the UK workforce, costing employers billions each year.

When men feel unable to seek help, small problems escalate into major crises - impacting not only their health, but also productivity, relationships, and leadership capacity.

Why men don’t talk

One of the biggest challenges in tackling men’s mental health is the culture of silence. Claire shared her concern about how deeply these beliefs are ingrained from a young age.

Even her own teenage sons, despite growing up in a family that encourages openness, often say things like:

• “Boys don’t talk about that stuff.”
• “You just have to get on with it.”
• “Talking about your feelings is weird.”

“It’s so deeply ingrained in our boys and young men that they have to ‘just be OK’,” Claire said. “It’s no wonder the statistics are so shocking.”

This conditioning continues into adulthood. Men may downplay their struggles and turn to unhealthy coping strategies such as alcohol, drugs, or overworking.

For many, silence feels safer than vulnerability. But the cost of silence is devastating.

The reality of men’s mental health

The statistics tell a disturbing story…

• One in four men will experience a mental health problem this year.
• 79 per cent of suicides in the UK are men.
• Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, averaging 19 deaths every day.
• Only 36 per cent of NHS talking therapy referrals are men, despite high levels of need.
• Over 40 per cent of men have never spoken to anyone about their mental health.
• Around 1 in 10 new fathers experience postnatal depression or anxiety.
• Men account for 75 per cent of drug-related deaths and are twice as likely as women to develop alcohol dependency.

Perhaps most telling of all: men often don’t ask for help until they are in crisis. By that point, the damage to their health, relationships, and work can be profound.

“For many men, it takes reaching crisis point before they seek help. That has to change,” Claire stressed.

Why this work matters

For Claire, the drive to support men is both professional and personal.

In her practice, she has seen how long it can take for men to reach out, but how transformative it can be when they finally do. But her mission became even clearer two years ago when her husband suffered a mini-stroke.

As a headteacher and national SATs leader, his life revolved around serving others, leaving little space for friendships, hobbies, or self-care.

“He was showing up every day for everyone else,” Claire shared, “but neglecting himself.”

Around the same time, a client she’d previously worked with for a number of years died by suicide.

Just weeks earlier, he had met with her to share how he had turned his life around. He had seemed optimistic and happy, but behind closed doors he was struggling.

His death left a deep impact and strengthened her resolve: “I cannot stand by. I have to be part of the change.”

A different approach to support

By combining counselling with coaching, she helps men understand the root of their struggles while taking practical, results-focused steps to create change.

Using techniques such as NLP, hypnotherapy and Time Line Therapy, she supports men to move beyond simply ‘coping’ and towards long-lasting transformation.

She is particularly focused on supporting men who are:

• Feeling stuck or unfulfilled in their life, career or relationships

• Business owners or professionals struggling with stress, anxiety or burnout
   
• Coping through alcohol, drugs, or other unhealthy behaviours
   
• Neurodivergent (diagnosed or undiagnosed)

How we can all play a part

Claire stresses that change can’t come from professionals alone - it requires all of us.

Whether as employers, colleagues, friends, or family, we each have a role to play in creating a culture where men feel safe enough to speak.

Here are some practical ways we can support:

1 Normalise conversations

• Ask open questions like “How are you really doing?”
• Share your own challenges too — it makes others feel less alone.

2 Challenge stereotypes

• Remind boys and men that vulnerability is a form of strength.
• Push back on phrases like ‘man up’ or ‘just get on with it.’.

3 Offer practical support

• Instead of vague offers like ‘let me know if you need anything’, suggest specifics: ‘Want to grab a coffee?’ or ‘Shall I go with you?’

4 Encourage healthy outlets

• Promote hobbies, exercise, and downtime.
• Reassure men that rest and friendships are not luxuries, they’re necessities.

5 Check in regularly

• Don’t wait for a crisis. A quick call or message can make all the difference.

6 Promote professional help

• Reassure men that seeking counselling, coaching, or medical support is proactive, not a sign of weakness.
• Share resources such as podcasts, books, or workshops.

7 Support at work

• Leaders can set the tone by modelling healthy behaviours: taking breaks, setting boundaries, and talking openly about stress.
• Businesses can make support visible by signposting resources and creating open cultures around wellbeing.

A call to the business community

The Chamber exists to bring businesses together, and this conversation highlights why that matters. Leaders and business owners are not immune to stress, burnout, or crisis - yet too often they face it alone.

Claire spoke warmly of the support she has found through the Chamber community. “As a leader or MD, it can be a lonely place. If you would benefit from a supportive community of like-minded people, I can’t recommend the Chamber highly enough. It has been hugely beneficial for me and my business.”

By working together, Chamber members can play a crucial role in changing the narrative around men’s mental health - making it not only acceptable, but encouraged, to speak openly, seek help, and prioritise wellbeing.

Claire’s closing message

“Men’s mental health is not a side issue. It’s central to the wellbeing of our families, workplaces, and society. None of us are immune to stress, but none of us need to suffer in silence either. We’re all in this together.”