By Ben Jefferson - MCS Co-Founder & Men's Counsellor  

Each month at Men's Counselling Service, we round up the men's mental health news and policy developments we've found most useful. Three threads ran through this month's stories. Men's struggles are often missed. Demand for NHS mental health services keeps outpacing supply. And more people are turning to AI for support it can't safely give.

We've also included our latest articles, including pieces from counsellors in our directory, for anyone wondering what counselling for men involves.

Depression in men doesn't always look like sadness

In a piece for Yahoo, therapist Scott Mallon explains that depression in men often looks like stress or a bad mood rather than sadness. The signs he describes include irritability, emotional distance, exhaustion, loss of motivation and feeling numb or disconnected. None of that matches the usual picture of depression, so it's easy to miss – for men and for the people around them.

Naming what it looks like in plain language could help some men recognise what they've been carrying. We've written more about this in The Hidden Epidemic That Is Covert Male Depression.

AI chatbots often miss the signs of a crisis

Research by Scale AI, reported by TIME, tested 25 AI models on 718 realistic conversations written by clinicians and crisis counsellors. In about 35% of conversations where a chatbot had fully recognised the crisis, it still didn't point the user towards help, such as a crisis line. TIME also reports there is no consensus among tech companies, policymakers or mental health professionals on how models should respond to someone in crisis.

AI chatbots are no substitute for trained human support during a mental health crisis. If you're struggling right now, you can call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night.

Two in three UK workers report psychological distress

Vitality's Global Health Index 2026, run with RAND Europe, found that 66% of UK workers report moderate to serious psychological distress. Only a quarter have a formal mental health diagnosis, and fewer than one in three UK employers offer counselling or mental health support.

Reported distress and a formal diagnosis aren't the same thing, and many people sit somewhere between the two. If you've wondered whether what you're dealing with counts, our piece Is My Problem Serious Enough For Therapy? may help.

Heavy social media use linked to anxiety in men

A Canadian Men's Health Foundation survey of 2,000 men found that those spending more than three hours a day on social media were more than twice as likely to report moderate to high anxiety (54% compared with 23%). More than half (53%) of men aged 19 to 44 said they spend that long on social media each day.

The survey shows a link rather than a cause.

The Fonagy review finds rising need

The independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism in England, chaired by Professor Peter Fonagy, published its final report on 9 October 2026. The review was commissioned by the Health and Social Care Secretary in December 2025. Among its findings, one in four 16 to 24-year-olds met the criteria for a common mental health condition in 2024, up from one in six in 1993.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Centre for Mental Health both called for action, with the Centre saying "there is no longer any doubt about the rising prevalence of mental ill health in England". Put simply, need is rising faster than the system can respond. Men need routes to support that don't start with a waiting list.

2.34 million people with an open NHS mental health referral

At the end of August 2026, 2.34 million people in England had an open referral with NHS mental health services, according to NHS England figures reported by the European Medical Journal. The figure doesn't include people whose only contact was through NHS Talking Therapies.

The figures illustrate the scale of demand on NHS mental health services. Any serious, sustainable plan for mental health will need the public, private and third sectors working together.

Questions over AI monitoring in mental health hospitals

Channel 4 News reported concerns about Oxevision, an AI monitoring system used in NHS mental health hospitals. LIO Health, the company behind it, has acknowledged limitations in its evidence to a public inquiry, while maintaining that the system helps protect vulnerable patients. Earlier this year, University of Oxford experts told the Lampard Inquiry that the studies they reviewed did not provide "strong independent evidence" of improved patient safety.

Scrutiny of AI in UK mental health care is growing.

Average wait so far for young people awaiting first contact reaches 12 months

The CQC's State of Care 2025/26 report found that the average time young people had been waiting for first contact with mental health services doubled, from 5.8 months in April 2023 to 12 months by March 2026, as reported by The Independent. Over a similar period, the number of children waiting for first contact rose by 31%.

For a boy who has finally asked for help, a year is a long time to wait.

What is relational therapy, and how does it work in counselling for men?

Nottingham-based counsellor Elaine Bond explains how our early relationships can shape the way we connect with others later in life. Those early patterns often show up around trust, boundaries and asking for support. Elaine also looks at how the relationship between therapist and client can help men recognise and understand those patterns.

It's a useful introduction for men who aren't sure what to expect from counselling. Read Elaine's article on relational therapy.

Meet the Counsellor: Tim Pike on men taking the first step

This month we launched Meet the Counsellor, a monthly interview series with therapists from our directory. Our first guest, Brighton-based counsellor and psychotherapist Tim Pike, talks about the hesitation and scepticism some men bring to their first session. He explains why counselling isn't only for people in crisis and how trust builds over time.

Tim also suggests trying a single first session, without any pressure to commit to more. Read the interview with Tim Pike.

Are we doing enough to ensure men engage with counselling?

Men's Counselling Service co-founder Ben Jefferson asks whether enough is being done to help men access and stay in counselling. Drawing on NHS data and our 2026 counsellor survey, he looks at why the growth in men receiving therapy has lagged behind medication use, and why so many men referred to counselling never start or finish treatment.

Ben sets out five practical ways to improve engagement. They range from making counselling easier to access and explaining what therapy involves, to prioritising privacy and giving men more choice over their therapist. Read Ben's article on men's engagement with counselling.

If anything in this month's roundup sounds familiar, browsing our therapists is a low-pressure place to start. You can find a counsellor near you or online, and many offer a free initial conversation. If you'd like to know what to expect first, our guide to what happens in your first counselling session walks through it.

Are you a counsellor or psychotherapist who works with men? We're always keen to feature more voices from our community. Get in touch if you'd like to contribute an article.

Related Articles:

Is My Problem Serious Enough For Therapy? (5 minute read)
Key Men's Mental Health Statistics: A Guide To The Data (7 minute read)
Common Misconceptions About Counselling for Men (5 minute read)

Disclaimer: 

This article is for information only and reflects the thoughts of the writer. It's not medical or mental health advice. Seek professional help for your needs. Men's Counselling Service LTD is not a crisis service. For emergencies, call your local services or the Samaritans at 116 123.

Next Steps: 

To find a men's therapist near you via our directory, click the Find Counselling For Men button below.