Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS England on partnership working with community-based men’s mental health organisations.

The Department continues to work closely with NHS England to improve outcomes for men, including through a shared focus on suicide prevention.

The Men’s Health Strategy seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of all men in England, including by tackling men’s mental health. The strategy includes investment in community-based men's health and suicide prevention programmes, and a groundbreaking partnership with the Premier League to make sure people know what mental health support is available to them. This builds on the important work already being undertaken by community organisations in Essex, including Men's Sheds, Andy's Man Club and local Mind services, which help men access support within their communities.

The Suicide Prevention Support Pathfinders Programme for middle-aged men will tackle this inequality by investing up to £3.6 million over the next three years. The programme is currently being designed and will seek to improve timely access to neighbourhood-based support for middle-aged men and to strengthen joined-up pathways between services.