On Saturday 1 November, Sandwell Council teamed up with West Bromwich Albion to host ‘You ok, mate?’ a powerful new public health campaign aimed at breaking the silence around men’s mental health.
The ‘You ok, mate?’ campaign has already gone viral across social media platforms with over one million views and continued to grow with Albion fans on match day.
Given West Bromwich Albion’s draw against Sheffield Wednesday, one message rang loud and clear at The Hawthorns: mental health doesn’t take sides. It affects people from all walks of life, and it’s time we talked about it.
The event, held in the fan zone, offered a safe space where men could open up, share their stories, and support one another before the match. 79% of suicides in Sandwell are men, and the campaign is urging everyone to check in and ask, ‘Are you ok, mate?’.
Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Jackie Taylor, said:
“Thank you to all the men and women who spoke with us on Saturday. There is a real appetite to get men talking in Sandwell.’’
“Please ask for help if you’re struggling. There’s support out there and it’s a brave step towards feeling better. The statistics show we need to change the culture and encourage men to talk before things reach crisis point.
“We’re proud to work with West Bromwich Albion and partners to shine a light on this issue and help get our men talking.”
A West Bromwich Albion spokesperson said: “We are very proud as a football club to support Sandwell Council’s ‘You Ok Mate’ campaign.
“Our captain, Jed Wallace, alongside other members of the men’s first-team squad, gave this important cause their full backing.
“We hope hosting Sandwell Council for the Sheffield Wednesday match has helped spread such a crucial message.”
Dr Frances Howie, Interim Director of Public Health for Sandwell Council, added:
“This bold campaign is informed by local men who told us about the many challenges they face which can impact negatively on their mental health. We know men often find it hard to talk about their mental health, and we want to make it easier. A simple ‘You ok, mate?’ could be the nudge someone needs to talk and to seek help. Let’s break the stigma. Let’s get men talking in Sandwell.”
For more information on the ‘You ok, mate?’ campaign and the support available, visit:
www.healthysandwell.co.uk/youokmate
Need mental health support?
- Visit www.healthysandwell.co.uk/healthy-mind
- Call Healthy Sandwell free on 0800 011 4656
- In crisis? Call NHS 111 and choose option 2
- Call Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit their website
Let’s get men talking in Sandwell.