Liberal democrat shadow minister for mental health Dr Danny Chambers MP met with mental health campaigner Ashley Riley in Parliament on Blue Monday to discuss the scale and impact of men’s mental health challenges across the UK.
Blue Monday 2026 fell on 19 January and is traditionally recognised as the third Monday in January. Although the concept lacks scientific backing and originated from a 2005 marketing formula by psychologist Cliff Arnold, it is widely used as a prompt to acknowledge winter-related sadness, encourage people to seek help, and highlight the need for mental health support.
Personal testimony highlights gaps in support
Ashley Riley, founder of the Blue Soul Shoes platform, shared a personal experience with Dr Chambers. Two years ago, Riley said he was an outgoing, confident business owner when he began experiencing low mood and a brief panic attack. Within a month, this developed into what Riley described as life-stopping anxiety and deep depression.
“Despite the much-needed increase in mental health awareness there remains a deep chasm of care on Blue Monday 2026,” Riley said. “I’m not a medic and I’m not a therapist but I hear every day from men going through real life changing mental health challenges.”
“Unless they are at the point of wanting to harm themselves or considering ending their life, they are simply being left to it.”
Riley pointed to suicide statistics among men, stating: “We know that 75% of U.K. suicides are men.” Official data from the Office for National Statistics shows men account for around three quarters of suicide deaths in England and Wales, a proportion that has remained broadly consistent in recent years.
“That number will never change while the current provision of service remains and while the Government have recently published a Men’s Health Strategy there remains an enormous lack of provision for men seeking support for their mental health,” Riley added.
Government strategy and political response
The UK Government launched its first Men’s Health Strategy for England in November 2025. The 10-year plan aims to improve men’s physical and mental well-being, tackle health inequalities, and address issues including suicide prevention.
Dr Danny Chambers MP said the meeting reinforced the urgency of the issue. “It was good to welcome Ashley to Parliament and hear his mental health story. One that is all too familiar to men across the UK,” Dr Chambers said. “Every day millions of men are facing mental health challenges and on Blue Monday, traditionally an annual day to highlight mental health awareness, it was important to discuss with Ashley what more we as politicians can do to ensure the right support is in place.”
“His Blue Soul Shoes story needs to be heard as it shows that poor mental health does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone at any time,” Dr Chambers continued. “That is why as Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Mental Health I’ll be continuing to raise this issue and hold the government to account. We need to ensure men experiencing mental health challenges are given the support they desperately need.”
Long waits and unmet needs
Further concerns were highlighted by Mind’s Big Mental Health Report, published at the end of 2025. The report found that over one in three people who had experienced stress, depression or anxiety said their mental health deteriorated while waiting for support from authorities.
“Mental health is destroying men, their families, their communities and their lives,” Riley said. “I know from personal experience that over one in three people are reporting a deterioration in their mental health while waiting for an appointment for help with their mental health.”
Riley also described experiencing psychosis, which led him to borrow money to fund ten days of private psychiatric care. After leaving treatment, Riley suffered a stroke while mowing the front lawn and was found by his 11-year-old daughter.
“After being sent home by my GP I didn’t know what to do,” Riley said. “My wife didn’t know what to do and my children couldn’t work out what was happening to their Daddy.”
The Mind report also found that 33% of people who accessed GP support said it did not meet their needs, up from 27% in 2019.
“My experience was the same as millions of other men,” Riley said. “That is why it was good to meet with Danny and hear both his and the Liberal Democrats commitment to address what is a real pandemic in the UK today.”
“I am looking forward to working with Danny and his team over coming months and years to continue to ensure Parliament hears the voice of men who are experiencing mental health challenges.”
The meeting reflects ongoing concerns about gaps in mental health provision for men, particularly amid rising demand and long waiting times for care.