Harrogate Chamber Hosts Important Meeting on Men's Mental Health
Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce hosted its June meeting on Monday, 9th June 2025, at Harrogate College. The evening was dedicated to the critical topic of Men's Mental Health, alongside updates on local initiatives and key community contributions.
The meeting began with a welcome from Chamber President Phill Holdsworth, who thanked attendees and acknowledged the excellent hospitality and facilities provided by Harrogate College.
Danny Wilde from Harrogate College extended a welcome to attendees, highlighting the college's commitment to partnering with local businesses to equip students with essential skills for the workplace, including details on a new facility set to create further collaboration opportunities. Nigel Thompson from Disability Action Yorkshire then outlined two services available to businesses: expert advice on premises accessibility and tailored disability awareness training, underscoring their work with Visit North Yorkshire to promote district-wide accessibility.
Following these important updates, the main focus shifted to Men's Mental Health - particularly pertinent as it coincided with Men's Health Week 2025 (June 10-16). Chamber President Phill Holdsworth opened this segment with sobering statistics, noting that one in five men die before age 65, with 75% of UK suicides being by men.
The main part of the meeting, which was organised by Chamber Vice President Vicky Findlow of Bradleys Jewellers, was delivered by Steve Phillip and Jane Keogh.
Steve, Founder of The Jordan Legacy shared his deeply personal and moving story of losing his son to suicide in 2019. He offered profound insights into men's unique mental health challenges, discussing how traditional masculine socialisation often discourages emotional expression, leading to issues like identity crises, increased likelihood of alcohol or drug dependency, and significant loneliness and isolation. Steve spoke about the concept of "hegemonic masculinity" versus "flexible masculinity," advocating for an openness to vulnerability and compassion. He stressed that while mental illness is often involved, suicide is a complex issue resulting from a combination of factors that can lead to feelings of entrapment and hopelessness. Steve passionately explained The Jordan Legacy's work, including action research, the “Hope for Life” conference (December 2nd at Yorkshire Events Centre), lobbying government, delivering talks, and producing podcasts, all aimed at fostering open conversations and guiding people on how to directly ask someone if they are feeling suicidal – a crucial step that can save lives.
Jane Keogh (janekeogh.co.uk) then further explored the theme of building true emotional resilience versus suppressing and bottling up emotions. She discussed the importance of self-awareness, understanding one's triggers and emotions, and developing effective coping mechanisms. Jane covered the human tendency to overthink and how this can create problems, leading to anxiety and stress. She also touched on conditioning, external influences, and our deep-rooted human tendencies that shape our emotional responses. Crucially, Jane highlighted the specific stigma around men and emotions and its significant impact on both mental and physical health, concluding with practical insights on how to make it genuinely okay for men to share and talk about their feelings.
Beyond the main presentations, the meeting highlighted various community and business initiatives. Attendees learned about Andy's Man Club, as a valuable, free-to-attend resource for men's mental health. Chris Dickinson of ASE Computers announced a free "CyberShield" event on June 24th, focused on business IT security and cybersecurity precautions, featuring speakers from Microsoft and Sophos. Joanne from Time Together celebrated the charity's 30th anniversary and promoted a raffle with prizes to support autistic clients. Finally, Colleen introduced the "Chatty Cafe" initiative, a community connection program offering a safe space for conversation and combating loneliness at Saints Coffee Shop every Wednesday.
We were also pleased to formally welcome two new Chamber members - MJ Ryder, and Artizan International.
Harrogate Chamber extends its thanks to Harrogate College for their excellent hospitality and facilities, and to all the speakers and presenters for their invaluable contributions. The strong attendance reflected the community's commitment to supporting important conversations and fostering a collaborative business environment in Harrogate.
