Men's Mental Health Month - support is available

This year marks the 22nd year of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

Widely known as Movember, the original aim was to help men to start serious conversations about men’s mental health – and grow impressive moustaches!

Please note: This article references suicide.

This year the theme of the annual campaign is about supporting men and boys with a focus on mental health, suicide prevention and raising awareness of the symptoms of prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

As November is Men’s Health Awareness Month, we want to use this as an opportunity to start conversations about men's physical and mental health and encourage everyone to seek support when they need it.

North Ayrshire Council employees can access a range of support, including:

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), offering free and confidential support 24/7. Call 0800 882 4102 or access the wellbeing portal/app using organisation code NACEAP
• Wellbeing Warriors, trained to listen and signpost colleagues to appropriate support
• Occupational Health and wider wellbeing support
• The Council's HR Guide: Mental Health in the Workplace, dedicated LiveWell, Men’s Health Information and Resources and HR Guide: Supporting Employees with Cancer
• Supportive HR policies and guidance covering areas including disability, carers, domestic abuse and gambling-related harms which can be found on Connects

Then in North Ayrshire and across Scotland, you can get support and information via:

• Independent Advocacy Service - helps people speak up for what is important to them in all aspects of their life
• Mental health self-help guides from NHS Inform are available to support you in managing the symptoms of a range of mental health conditions. The website also has direct advice and information on what to do if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts
• NODA provides activities for people in the community facing challenges. This ranges from emotional support and companionship for those in crisis or dying alone, to peer-led wellbeing activities and groups
• North Ayrshire Wellbeing & Recovery College offers educational courses to support mental, physical and emotional wellbeing in shared learning environments in local communities across North Ayrshire
• Penumbra Peers 4 Hope is a peer support service that offers practical and emotional support for patients who are, or have been, known to statutory mental health services
• Penumbra's Self-Harm Support Service can offer practical and emotional support if you’re experiencing self-harm. It offers a safe, non-judgemental space where you can explore your self-harming behaviours and learn healthy coping strategies
• Shout is a free, text-based service that offers tailored mental health support to people of all ages in the UK - to access the service, text Shout to 85258 to be connected to a trained Shout volunteer
• The Umbrella Project is a free mental health resource based in Irvine, providing therapeutic activity-based support for adults
• Breathing Space is a free mental wellbeing service available in Scotland by calling 0800 83 85 87 from Monday to Thursday, 6pm to 2am, or from 6pm to 6am at the weekend

For urgent support if you are feeling suicidal, call NHS 24 on 111 or Police Scotland on 999.

The important message this November is simple: don't wait until things become overwhelming. Support is available.

Published November 02, 2026