Let’s Keep Talking: A campaign to save lives

Male suicide is a crisis that cannot be ignored.

In the Northwest, suicide rates are the highest in the UK, with men making up around three-quarters of all suicides.

The Let’s Keep Talking campaign, launched by the NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria, aims to change the conversation around male mental health and encourage more men to seek help. Why are so many men at risk? Social and cultural pressures play a major role in male suicide. Many men feel compelled to live up to traditional ideas of masculinity, where emotional expression is seen as weak.

Unemployment, financial stress, and feelings of failure can contribute to a sense of hopelessness.

Helen Parry, suicide prevention lead for Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), explains: “Men are less likely to seek formal support for their mental health struggles and often wait until they reach crisis point. We need to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health and make it clear that asking for help is not a sign of weakness.”

How you can help
1. Start a conversation – Sometimes, a simple “How are you really feeling?” can make a huge difference.
2. Know the signs – Withdrawal, mood changes, and hopelessness can be indicators that someone is struggling.
3. Encourage support – Direct them to resources such as the Staying Alive app or the Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB suicide prevention webpage.
​4. Challenge stigma – Speak openly about mental health to create an environment where men feel safe to seek help. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out. Support is available, and talking can save lives.