19 May 2026
The Men’s Mental Health Challenge event took place on Friday 15 May at the Chichester Assembly Rooms, bringing together local services, organisations and community members to raise awareness of men’s mental health and wellbeing.
The event was organised by the Chichester Neighbourhood Mental Health Team from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and neurodevelopmental services across Sussex.
Latest figures from Mind mental health charity show that men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.
The day provided an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the wide range of support available across the area, while creating a welcoming and inclusive space for conversations around men's mental health.
Rob Szymanski, Managing Director for the West Sussex Division of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, attended the event and said: " It was great to see so many local partners in the room, including NHS services, voluntary sector (VCSE), local authority colleagues, police, education, community groups and people with lived experience.
Men are significantly impacted by mental health challenges, but many don't always come forward early enough for support.
Events like this matter because they help break down the stigma of mental health difficulties - creating a space to talk, connecting people with their local support, and making it easier to ask for help.
Thank you to the Chichester NMHT for organising such an important event."
15 Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams launched across Sussex in December 2025 to help people get the mental health support they need, when they need it, by bringing together local services to provide more joined-up, person-centred support.
To find out more about the mental health support and services in your area, go to: sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/how-are-you-really-feeling.
