Launch week continues at Men’s Therapy Hub and our new podcast, No Man’s an Island. Chris Hemmings sits down with Mark Brooks OBE – chair of the Mankind Initiative, policy advisor to the All‑Party Parliamentary Group on Issues Affecting Men and Boys, co‑founder of the Men and Boys Coalition and National Ambassador for International Men’s Day. Mark has spent two decades pushing men’s health and inclusion into the mainstream and helping build practical services that meet men where they are. In this conversation we dig into how policy actually shifts, why language and evidence matter, and what works on the ground when engaging men. We cover domestic abuse against men, the men’s health strategy, boys’ education, the empathy gap and how to design services that feel like a fit rather than a fight. If you are building anything for men – or you are a man wondering where to start – there is a tonne here you can use today.
What we cover
- Mark’s route into men’s work – from local politics to national policy
- Moving men’s issues into the Overton window – normalising the conversation
- The All‑Party Parliamentary Group – why cross‑party support matters
- Men’s health strategy and suicide prevention – evidence first
- Domestic abuse against men – services, stigma and the empathy gap
- Boys’ education – culture, literacy and role modelling without clichés
- Designing for men – on men’s terms, turf and tongues
- Anonymous routes, consequence‑free first steps and action‑led support
- Collaboration across charities – why funding stability unlocks teamwork
- Practical calls to action for therapists, employers and community leaders
Listen and watch
- Watch on YouTube – embedded player goes here
- Listen on Apple Podcasts – link
- Listen on Spotify – link
Takeaways for men
- Start anonymous if you need to – consequence‑free first steps count
- Action helps – ask “what do I do next” and follow through
- If you face domestic abuse, you are not alone – there is specialist help
- Therapy should fit you – directive, practical and compassionate can coexist
- Progress is upstream and downstream – small moves add up
Quotes to share
“Helping men and boys is a good in itself.” – Mark Brooks
“We can think two thoughts at once – support women and girls and support men and boys.” – Mark Brooks
“Meet men on their terms, on their turf and in their tongues.” – Mark Brooks
“Men often see suicide as a life problem – the help must match that reality.” – Mark Brooks
Resources and links
Episode credits
Hosted by Chris Hemmings with guest Mark Brooks OBE. Produced by Men’s Therapy Hub. Recorded November 2025.
