Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust champions Men’s Mental Health at Warwick Pursuits Festival for Men’s Health Week
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust's (CWPT) Talking Therapies service is proud to take centre stage at the Warwick Pursuits Festival on Saturday 14 June 2025 as part of Men's Health Week (9-15 June). Held in St Nicholas' Park, Warwick (CV34 4QY) from 10am to 4pm, the event provides a unique opportunity for the team to reach out to the local community in a welcoming environment filled with live music, food and entertainment.
Talking Therapies staff will be available throughout the day to offer practical advice, share vital mental health resources and encourage open conversations about men's mental wellbeing, a key focus of this national awareness week. The relaxed setting offers an ideal space to connect with fathers, brothers, sons and male friends who might otherwise find it difficult to seek support.
Men's Health Week highlights the overlooked health challenges faced by men and promotes greater awareness around both physical and mental health. Taking place annually in the week leading up to Father's Day, the campaign invites men and their loved ones to take meaningful steps toward better wellbeing.
Earlier in the week, CWPT Talking Therapies also hosted a dedicated staff workshop entitled 'Men's Minds Matter' on Tuesday 10 June, aimed at empowering attendees to better understand male mental health. The interactive session welcomed staff of all genders and explored:
· The importance of maintaining good mental health
· Living a purposeful and balanced life
· Recognising and challenging unhelpful thinking patterns
Participants reflected on how their own mental wellbeing impacts daily life and learned practical ways to support male colleagues, friends and family members.
Sheri Ashton, Head of Service for Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull NHS Talking Therapies, said: We know that men are often less likely to seek help for mental health issues, sometimes due to stigma or a reluctance to talk. Men's Health Week gives us a vital chance to challenge that narrative and create space for supportive, open dialogue. Our events this week are all about empowering people to understand and champion mental wellbeing - both for themselves and others.
While Men's Health Week puts the spotlight on men, NHS Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull Talking Therapies is available year-round to anyone experiencing common mental health difficulties. The service offers free, effective and confidential psychological therapies delivered by fully trained and accredited NHS practitioners.
Support is available for those struggling with depression, excessive worry, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or low mood linked to long-term physical conditions such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic pain or IBS. Talking Therapies also provides specialist therapy for the perinatal period and couples therapy for depression.
Dan Whidden, Clinical Lead for Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull Talking Therapies, added: Good mental health is crucial to living a fulfilling life and support should be accessible, stigma-free and compassionate. We are here to help people take that first step towards feeling better, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Alastair Penman, Director of Operations for Adult and Older People's Mental Health Services at CWPT, emphasised: At CWPT, our commitment to health - particularly mental health - includes raising awareness of the specific wellbeing needs of men and breaking down the barriers that prevent them from seeking support. By fostering environments where people feel safe to open up, we can ensure more individuals access the help they need, when they need it most.
For anyone requiring mental health support through Talking Therapies, there are several ways to access the service:
- Self-referral via digital referral assistant (chatbot) or via the form online at www.talkingtherapies.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/self-referral
- Call 02476 671 090 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm)
- Email talkingtherapies@covwarkpt.nhs.uk for further information
To access the service, individuals must be aged 16 and over and registered with a GP in Coventry, Warwickshire or Solihull. Assessments are typically completed within a four-week period with most clients entering treatment within 12 weeks.