12th Man

12th Man is a campaign that works with businesses and interest groups to promote day-to-day mental health conversations among men.  12th Man provides free mental health first aid training to people who work in businesses that have high numbers of male customers or employees, and interest groups that may have large numbers of male members.  12th Man aims to position its campaign and values within the spaces where dialogue is already taking places, utilising community networks to maximise opportunities for men to talk and listen. In doing so, we can all play a role in supporting each other and reducing mental health stigma by normalising mental health and talking with confidence about our thoughts, feelings and emotions. 

Cycling clubs and shops are a key are of the 12th Man campaign.  Cycling is proven to be highly beneficial for our mental health and wellbeing, and riding together can be one of the environments where dialogue naturally takes place.  Cycling clubs who engage with 12th Man become role models for other men, and over time our campaign will become a movement, led by businesses and leisure groups such as Iceni Velo.  To ‘Be the 12th Man’ all we need to do is choose our team and support them through good times and bad.