Men's Mental Health Charity Birmingham
About Us
Menkind was built out of a shared vision of a more just, equitable and overall happier world.
While we started out as a men's mental health charity, which continues to be our main focus, this has steadily grown to become what we see as a growing need for greater community cohesion. After all, communities are made up of individuals – When you empower individuals, the community at large benefits.
The Menkind story
Menkind started as a few friends bonding over cricket.
Maybe the shared enthusiasm for sport made people feel they could let their guard down, because we became known both inside and outside the club as people you could come to for a listening ear and a bit of advice.
All these individual moments of connection led to a realisation – There was a clear need for a safe impartial space where people, men especially, could seek support without fear of judgement or repercussions.
A great deal of the people we first helped were undocumented immigrants who got in touch with us over cricket. Many were stuck in the stressful position of needing assistance with finding accommodation, work or simply coming to terms with their journey to the UK, but were afraid of going to official channels for fear of deportation or imprisonment.
Widening our net
As Menkind continued to expand our reach and help men address their struggles, we had an epiphany.
Members of the wider Birmingham community started coming to us to voice their concerns. They shared their worries about anti-social behaviour, drug use, domestic abuse and a growing sense that the community was becoming more divided, while individuals were becoming more isolated.
This opened our eyes to a broader truth – Communities are stronger when they tackle common issues together. The men's mental health crisis isn't happening in a vacuum; It's part of a larger picture of social wellbeing.
With this in mind, we embraced the idea of community cohesion. We address not only men's mental health, but the root cause of social issues like anti-social behaviour with open minds and open hearts.
We look at it as two sides of the same coin. When we come together to improve the community we improve the lives of individuals, and when we improve the lives of individuals, we improve the community at large.
We believe there is more than one way to tackle a problem
Whether you're a man or not, Menkind is here to help.
Our Birmingham community charity revolves around around two values.
Everybody needs help from time to time
Everybody should be able to seek out that help without fear of judgement
For example, some people might ask why we help people find housing if we are called Menkind and call ourselves a men's mental health charity, for example – But what do you imagine that losing a roof over your head does to your mental wellbeing?
In tackling a wider range of issues, we unlock more ways we can function as a men's mental health charity and, once again, help to improve the wider community.
The team behind Menkind
We're made up of a diverse team of professionals and volunteers from all walks of life, each bringing their unique skills and experiences to the table. This includes:
- Licensed therapists and counsellors
- Medical professionals
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Teachers
Who do we help?
While our Birmingham community charity is called Menkind, we put more emphasis on kind than the men.
Whether you're a man struggling with mental health issues, a young adult who worry they're heading down a dark path or simply need an impartial ear to talk to, we're here to help. We offer:
Direct support
Our team of qualified professionals and volunteers provide a variety of services including individual counselling, focus groups and workshops tailored to specific needs and concerns.
Additional resources
If something falls outside our scope or knowledge, we can connect you with the best possible resources. This might include partner organisations, mental health hotlines, support communities and more.
Nothing is too big or too small for us – Whether you're trying to tackle a habit, have a friend going through a rough patch, need assistance finding temporary housing or something else, Menkind can either help or put you in touch with somebody who can.
Specialist help for undocumented immigrants
Undocumented immigrants face a unique challenge.
Many have arrived in the UK escaping persecution or conflict with limited contacts, access to resources or places they can turn to if they need assistance. This can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression, further damaging their mental health and pushing them towards unhealthy coping mechanisms in a vicious cycle, with few ‘official' means of escaping it.
Our Birmingham community charity was formally founded in part to help those in this position, and we continue to do this through completely anonymised support as a lifeline.
Talk to our specialist team
We're available any time you need us.
Text or call us on 08009991139 or fill out our secure form and our team will reach out to you.
