How Can Men Improve Their Mental Health?

How Can Men Improve Their Mental Health?
Two men sitting in a blue inflatable pool
Men who come to the reset day can try out an ice bath [Pete Norton]

Men are being invited to a “reset day” at a stately home to improve their mental health. Attractions at the event at Delapre Abbey, in Northampton, include ice baths and breathwork sessions. Organisers hope men will open up about their mental health in a supportive environment.

Creating a Safe Space

Dr David Smart, a Trustee at Delapre, said the event on 6 July was “about creating a safe space for men to support one another.” Figures showed men were less likely to access psychological therapies than women, yet men were three times more likely to take their own lives. Dr Smart, who chaired the Action for Happiness Northants Hub, said: “Men’s mental health is often overlooked due to societal pressures and stigma. This event is about creating a safe space for men to talk, share, and support one another.”

Dr Smart with short white hair and beard next to a tree
Dr David Smart said men’s mental health was often overlooked [David Smart]

Activities to Boost Mental Health

The event will be held in the walled garden at Delapre Abbey, once the pride of the Bouverie and Tate families who lived there. Activities include ice baths, which are thought to improve mental health, and breathwork sessions designed to reduce stress. Two military veterans, Pete Spink and Matthew Bushell, will join Dr Smart to talk about their mental health challenges, which required medical and psychological treatments.

Stately home in background, a large chess set on grass in the foreground
The venue for the reset day has peaceful gardens [Delapre Abbey]

Future Plans

Delapre Abbey hopes to create a well-being hub in the stables at the site to provide continuous support and resources. Dr Smart is raising money for the hub and Action for Happiness by going on a 1,460 mile (2350km) cycle challenge – 1460 was picked because it was the year of the Battle of Northampton.

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