Men’s Mental Health & Wellbeing

In a mental health crisis or need urgent help?

• Emergency (risk to life): call 999 or go to A&E.
• Urgent NHS mental health support: call 111 and select the mental health option — available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all ages. Covwarkpt
• Coventry & Warwickshire Mental Wellbeing Line: call 0800 616171 — free, confidential emotional support and signposting, day or night.
• Crisis text service: text CWHOPE to 85258 to start a free, confidential conversation with a mental health professional, any time of day or night. Covwarkpt
• Samaritans: call 116 123 — free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Covwarkpt
• Warwickshire Safe Haven (Coventry & Warwickshire Mind): for adults aged 16+ who are feeling distressed or in crisis, call (024) 7601 7200, 6pm–11pm every day, or visit one of the venues. CWMind

Feeling off? Not quite yourself?

You don’t need to be in crisis to talk to us.

If something’s been weighing on you — stress, poor sleep, low mood, irritability, or just a sense that things aren’t right — we’re here. A conversation with your GP is a good place to start.

---

We understand it can be hard to ask for help

It doesn’t need a label. You don’t have to call it “mental health”. You can just say you’ve not been feeling great lately — that’s enough. You don’t need to have the right words; describing how life feels day to day is all it takes.

Earlier is better. Coming in before things pile up makes a real difference. You don’t have to wait until you’re struggling badly.

You won’t be judged. Your GP’s role is to listen, give advice and help you find the right support — which might be talking therapies, practical help, medication, or simply a follow-up conversation. You stay in control of what happens next.

Where to start

Book a routine appointment. Request a standard GP appointment and simply mention you’d like to talk about how you’ve been feeling. You don’t need to prepare a speech.

Use the NHS App or our online form. If talking feels too much right now, you can write it down instead and we’ll follow up.

A tip that helps: before your appointment, jot down two or three things — how you’ve been feeling, how long it’s been going on, and anything it’s affecting (sleep, work, relationships). It takes the pressure off remembering everything in the moment.

Not ready to talk to us yet?

That’s okay. These organisations can be a first step, and many men find them a confidence-builder before speaking to a GP:

• NHS Talking Therapies — free NHS support for anxiety, depression and stress. You can refer yourself; you don’t need to see a GP first.
• Andy’s Man Club — free, peer-led talking groups for men aged 18+, every Monday at 7pm. No booking needed — just turn up. You can talk as much or as little as you like. Use their group finder for your nearest club, or join online.
• CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) — helpline and webchat, open 5pm to midnight every day, for anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems.
• Papyrus HOPELINE247 — confidential support for anyone under 35 experiencing thoughts of suicide, and for anyone worried about a young person. Call 0800 068 4141, any time.
• Samaritans — call 116 123, free, any time

Worried about someone?

If you’re concerned about a partner, son, brother, friend or colleague, you can help more than you might think. Men often find it easier to open up side by side — on a walk, in the car, during an activity — than face to face. You could offer to help them book an appointment, or simply let them know you’ve noticed and you’re around. The organisations above are there for people who are worried about someone, too.

Local support in Kenilworth

Friday Walks from Abbey Medical Centre

Join us outside Abbey Medical Centre every Friday at 12:20. There’s a shorter and a longer route depending on your ability and how you’re feeling on the day, so everyone’s welcome whatever your pace. Afterwards, we head to the Kenilworth Centre for refreshments and a chat

 

Waking in the night to pee? It’s worth getting checked

One common cause of broken sleep in men is nocturia — needing to get up in the night to pass urine. Waking once a night becomes more common with age and isn’t unusual, but if you’re making several trips it can disturb your sleep and may point to something treatable. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

In men, one of the usual causes is an enlarged prostate — a small gland below the bladder that can press on the tube carrying urine and cause problems with peeing. It’s most common in men over 50, and the symptoms tend to come on slowly and gradually get worse. Other causes include drinking caffeine or alcohol before bed, some medications, and conditions like diabetes or sleep apnoea. NHS

A few things can help you sleep better in the meantime: cutting down on caffeinated drinks before bed, avoiding a room that’s too light or too cold, and reducing daytime naps. But if it carries on, it’s worth speaking to us. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Please book an appointment if:

• you’re getting up several times a night, or it’s affecting your sleep or daily life
• you have difficulty starting to pee, a weak flow, or trouble emptying your bladder
• you notice blood in your urine (it may look pink, red or brown)

Try not to be embarrassed — the GP is used to talking about these symptoms. It’s worth getting checked because, occasionally, the same symptoms can be caused by more serious conditions, and finding those early makes them easier to treat. An enlarged prostate often doesn’t need treatment at all — it depends on how much the symptoms are affecting you — and where treatment is needed, it usually starts with simple lifestyle changes.

---

This page was produced with our Patient Participation Group. Published July 2026 · Next review July 2027.