25.05.2026
Men are less likely to seek help, less likely to talk about how they are feeling and less likely to access support until a problem has become serious. This is not a new observation, but in 2026 it remains as relevant as ever, and nowhere is it more pressing than in the workplace.
For many men, work is where they spend the majority of their waking hours. It is also where pressure builds, stress accumulates and the expectation to simply get on with it tends to be strongest. Yet most workplace wellbeing conversations still fail to address the specific challenges men face, or to create the conditions where men feel comfortable engaging with support in the first place.
At Joyful Living, we believe that genuinely inclusive wellbeing means taking men’s health seriously. Our Men’s Health Workshop is designed to do exactly that, opening up conversations that matter and equipping men with practical tools to look after themselves better.
Here is why this conversation cannot wait.
The scale of the problem
The statistics around men’s health are stark. Men are significantly more likely than women to die from preventable causes, less likely to visit a GP and more likely to reach crisis point before seeking help for a mental health problem.
Suicide remains the leading cause of death in men under 50 in the UK. Men are also more likely to use alcohol or other substances as coping mechanisms, and less likely to have close relationships in which they feel able to talk openly about how they are feeling.
These are not personal failings. They are the product of deeply ingrained cultural expectations around masculinity, strength and self-reliance, expectations that workplaces can either reinforce or help to dismantle.
How workplace culture shapes men’s health
The culture of a workplace sends powerful signals about what is and is not acceptable. In environments where long hours are worn as a badge of honour, where asking for help is seen as weakness and where emotional expression is frowned upon, men are far less likely to seek support, even when they genuinely need it.
This culture of silence has real consequences. Untreated stress, anxiety and depression do not simply stay at home. They affect concentration, decision-making, relationships at work and, over time, physical health.
A well workplace recognises this and actively works to create a culture where men feel as safe and supported as anyone else. That starts with leadership, with normalising the conversation and with ensuring that wellbeing provision speaks to men as well as it speaks to everyone else.
Our Mental Health Awareness for Managers workshop helps leaders develop the skills to spot signs of struggle in their teams and have supportive, effective conversations with the people they manage.
Physical health cannot be separated from mental health
Men’s health at work is not purely a mental health issue. Physical health plays an equally important role, and the two are deeply connected.
Sedentary working, poor nutrition, disrupted sleep and high stress all compound one another. A man who is eating poorly, not moving enough and sleeping badly is far more vulnerable to both physical illness and mental health difficulties.
Simple, practical interventions can make a significant difference. Our Nutrition Workshops help employees understand how food and hydration affect energy, mood and resilience. Our Yoga and Fitness Classes, including Desk Yoga and Pilates, offer accessible ways for people to move and decompress during the working day.
And for the physical toll that desk-based work takes on the body, Corporate Massage including Desk Massage and Indian Head Massage provides genuine relief that many men, once introduced to it, find far more accessible than they expected.
Stress management is not optional
Work-related stress affects everyone, but men often carry it quietly. The pressure to provide, to perform and to appear in control can mean that stress builds for longer before it is acknowledged, let alone addressed.
Our Stress Management Workshops give employees evidence-based tools to recognise and regulate their stress response, including practical Resilience and Relaxation Techniques sessions that work in the real world, not just in theory.
Mindfulness also has a growing evidence base for supporting men’s mental health, particularly around stress and anxiety. Our Introduction to Mindfulness is a practical, no-nonsense starting point for teams who want to explore what it can offer.
What organisations can do right now
Supporting men’s health at work does not require a complete overhaul of your wellbeing strategy. It starts with small, deliberate steps.
Organisations that want to make a real difference can:
- Normalise help-seeking from the top down, with leaders modelling openness about their own wellbeing
- Ensure wellbeing communications and events speak directly to men, not just generically to everyone
- Provide dedicated workshops that address men’s health specifically
- Train managers to have supportive conversations before problems escalate
- Create low-barrier physical wellbeing opportunities that feel accessible and relevant
- Offer one-to-one support services for employees who prefer private, personalised support
The goal is not to single men out. It is to make sure that support genuinely reaches them.
Starting the conversation with Joyful Living
Our Men’s Health Workshop is a practical, evidence-informed session designed to open up the conversation around men’s physical and mental health in the workplace. It is part of a broader suite of Health Awareness Workshops that help organisations address the specific health needs of their people throughout the year.
Paired with our Mental Health First Aid Training, Wellbeing Programmes and Employee Wellness Programmes, it forms part of a joined-up approach to workplace wellbeing that leaves no one behind.
Because when men are well, teams are well. And that is good for everyone.
📩 info@joyful-living.co
📞 020 36919 420