New platform: Men’s Counselling Service arrives in Bedford, where it aims to improve local male mental health outcomes
A new national therapist-founded platform – Men’s Counselling Service – has launched in Bedford, where it seeks to make private therapy more accessible to men both within the local community and across the country.
The launch is timely: England is preparing to roll out its first ever Men’s Health Strategy, a major national effort to close entrenched gender gaps in physical and mental health, underscoring the urgent need for better support for men at a local level.
The online service facilitates both in-person and online therapist appointments by connecting men with qualified therapist members. Men’s Counselling Service was launched this month, and features over 100 available therapists across the country. All of the therapists on the directory are fully accredited by the Professional Standards Authority-approved registers such as BACP, UKCP and NCPS.
The platform has been launched to help address the United Kingdom’s epidemic of poor male mental health. According to NHS England’s Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, around one-in-six men (15%) in England have a clinical mental health condition.
At the same time, men can struggle – or be reluctant – to access mental health support due to stigma, uncertainty, or lack of awareness. National NHS data shows men make up only around one-third of Talking Therapies referrals, despite men accounting forthree-quarters of UK suicides (ONS, 2024).
Men in the East of England face high levels of hidden distress, with 26.39% of men scoring above the high-anxiety threshold. Despite this, 91.1% of men experiencing symptoms of common mental health conditions receive no treatment, underscoring a substantial unmet need in the region. Local wellbeing scores also show low happiness levels among men, reflecting pressures that often go unspoken.
Empowering Men to Seek Support
The Men’s Counselling Service platform has been built entirely around men’s mental health needs. It aims to help men find affordable, local, and male-focused support that caters to their specific needs via an easy-to-use and intuitive directory.
The service allows men to connect with therapists immediately and directly, and explore therapy options without making a commitment upfront. Many therapists offer a free initial session, allowing men to explore therapy without a financial commitment.
The site also hosts a range of free practical resources and guides for men seeking support or wanting to learn more about mental health. These include articles and videos on a broad range of topics, from the impact of autism on relationships to the suitability of AI as a therapeutic tool.
Ben Jefferson MBACP, Psychotherapist and Founder of Men’s Counselling Service commented: “We launched Men’s Counselling Service this year with the explicit aim of making it easier for men to access support, and are delighted to have a presence in Bedford. Our goal is to bring like-minded therapists with a passion for working with men together, in turn making it easier for men looking for private therapy to connect with a qualified, passionate professional.”
“There is a long way to go when it comes to improving health outcomes and quality of life for everyone across the United Kingdom. By providing men with an easy way to access support built around their needs – as well as helpful resources and toolkits – we hope to make a positive difference to people who are in need of it, but might find it difficult to take the first step in a new direction.”
Warren Foot, Counsellor and Therapist with Men’s Counselling Service, said: ‘In my clinical work, as well as in my own earlier struggles with mental health, I’ve come to understand how much pressure men feel to appear in control, and the toll this can take when they feel they’re not. Many men have never been offered a space where they can speak openly without feeling weak or out of place. That’s why this service is so important. It offers a clear, safe and practical way for men to talk, explore, and be supported. I’m proud to be part of it."
Following the launch, Men’s Counselling Service seeks to continue to grow its therapist base both within Bedfordshire and across the country. Men who are interested in learning more about the benefits of therapy, or who want to connect directly with a local qualified therapist, should visit the Men’s Counselling Service site today.