Last Men’s Mental Health Week, JD Foundation, the charity arm of JD Group UK, teamed+ up with The Mix, the UK’s leading digital service for young people, to offer ongoing, meaningful support to young men across the country. Together, they’re launching a raft of brand new informative and supportive resources, designed to tackle the mental health crisis among young men and provide a safe, supportive space to open up.
Recent data from The Mix shows that 58% of young men identify anxiety and depression as their biggest mental health challenges. Yet stigma remains high, and asking for help is still one of the toughest steps. Encouragingly, 82% of young men say they would consider using peer support if they needed help with their mental health – a clear call to action that this new raft of support is answering.
Live from 9th June, the new partnered content featured a JD Foundation-sponsored discussion board, where men can join and discuss any issues they are facing with other peers in a supportive, anonymous space. Alongside the discussion boards, The Mix will also be releasing a special episode of their podcast, The Mix Six, ix, hosted by Owen Wood, winner of BBC’s Race Across The World in 2024 and featuring JD Sports team members opening up about their own mental health journeys.
The organisations are also hitting the streets across the UK with a series of street interviews, capturing what mental wellbeing means to young men today. There will also be partnered social media content and articles focused on real life stories from young people. This will all be hosted on The Mix’s newly relaunched website, offering content, community, coaching and crisis support, with a broad range of integrated services.
The Mix offers free, confidential support, expert advice and a welcoming community, all designed with and for young people. Offering support with mental health, relationships, work, money and beyond, The Mix is powered by the charity Mental Health Innovations, which also powers Shout, the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Victoria Hornby, CEO of Mental Health Innovations, said: “Asking for help is still one of the biggest hurdles young men face when it comes to their mental health. By creating a raft of support specifically for young men, in partnership with the JD Foundation, we’re offering a space that speaks directly to them – rooted in community, shared experience and digital-first support. This is part of our broader mission to make mental health help accessible to every young person, whenever and however they need it.”
Aaron Probert, Charity Manager, for the JD Foundation, added: “We’re incredibly proud to launch this partnership with The Mix. These new resources are about creating meaningful content and support that is accessible, inclusive and reflective of the real conversations young men want and need to have.”
This initiative marks the first step in a wider, long-term collaboration between The Mix and JD Foundation, with ongoing campaigns and joint content planned to keep mental health at the heart of youth culture.
