Why We Need to Talk About Men’s Mental Health

Chris Hemmings, therapist and founder of Men’s Therapy Hub, joins Dr Lee David to explore men’s mental health, emotional expression and why so many men struggle to ask for help. Many men don’t grow up being shown how to recognise or talk about their emotions. This conversation explores how that early learning can carry into adult life – shaping how stress, pressure and low mood are experienced and expressed. They discuss how emotions may show up through behaviour rather than words, including irritability, withdrawal, overworking or isolation, and why this can make it harder to recognise when support is needed. The episode also reflects on the role of shame and how this can delay men seeking help until things feel overwhelming. Alongside this, they explore how connection, curiosity and compassionate conversations can begin to shift this – both within relationships and more widely across society. Chris shares practical ways men can start to take small steps, including noticing changes in behaviour, opening up gradually and finding spaces where it feels possible to be heard without judgement. 00:00 Feeling alone in struggle 01:37 Chris’s story and coping patterns 04:18 Why men suppress emotions 07:06 Strength vs flexibility 09:33 Crisis before seeking help 12:05 Supporting boys and listening 17:49 Why men come to therapy 23:37 Choice Pause – heavy moments 26:17 Behaviour as a signal 30:28 Reaching out for support About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website (www.thechoicespace.co.uk) and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david) and LinkedIn. You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here: https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david About the guest Chris Hemmings is a therapist and coach who specialises in working with men. He’s the founder of Men’s Therapy Hub, a directory of male therapists for male clients. Before training to be a therapist he was a BBC journalist, writing and making documentaries about men, masculinity and mental health. He’s also the founder of M-Path, who go in to schools across the UK speaking to students about what it means to be a man. Connect with Chris via his website, and Men’s therapy hub via Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn No Man's an Island podcast