Men today might be more comfortable talking about emotions than previous generations. But the old idea that strength means staying stoic and self-reliant still lingers in many workplaces and can even be reinforced. Showing stress or vulnerability can still feel risky, especially in fast-paced or male-dominated environments. Research shows that in England, around 15% of men experience a common mental health problem such as anxiety or depression, compared with 24% of women. Yet men are three times more likely to die by suicide.¹

For many men, work isn’t just a job;  it’s part of their identity. But that sense of duty and drive can make it hard to step back or ask for help. The Men’s Health Forum estimates that about 191,000 men in the UK experience work-related stress, depression or anxiety each year ( that’s roughly 1 in 80 working men), and those are only the ones who report it. In many industries, long hours and “macho” workplace cultures can make openness even harder. One review found that men’s depression in male-dominated workplaces is often unrecognised and untreated.²

Because men are less likely to talk about how they feel, their struggles can look different. Rather than sadness or withdrawal, it might appear as irritability, overwork, drinking more, or simply “keeping busy.” These signs are easy to overlook or dismiss as personality traits, but they’re often symptoms of burnout or deeper distress.

Businesses can make a real difference by shifting the culture. When seeking support is seen as strength, not weakness, and when managers are trained to notice less obvious signs of stress, conversations can start to happen. Offering low-pressure ways to talk, like more informal check-ins or peer discussions, can help too. Evidence shows that when support is designed with men in mind, engagement and wellbeing both improve.³

At Fresh Seed, we believe that real wellbeing starts with understanding - recognising that men’s experiences of pressure, identity and silence can be different, but no less real. Creating spaces where men can speak openly and be heard isn’t just good for mental health; it’s good for people, performance, and the culture we build together.

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¹ Mental Health Foundation (2023). Men and mental health statistics. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/men-women-statistics

² LaMontagne, A. et al. (2016). Depression in male-dominated workplaces. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5127922/

³ LaMontagne, A. et al. (2016). Work-related mental health interventions for men. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5127922/