Bristol Street Motors Helps Put The Brakes On Men's Mental Health Issues

Bristol Street Motors Helps Put The Brakes On Men's Mental Health Issues

Bristol Street Motors York Renault Dacia has partnered with Menfulness and raised £2,740 for the charity after donating a sum for each new car sold from its Clifton Moor site.

The initiative came about after a sales executive at the dealership, Jessica Bright, suggested swapping the traditional bouquet of flowers presented during a new vehicle handover for a charity donation of the same value.

With the automotive industry being traditionally male-dominated, York-based Menfulness, which brings local men together to socialise, exercise, enjoy themselves, talk, and let off steam in a non-judgmental, friendly, and supportive environment, was an obvious choice.

Men’s mental health is a critical issue, with men being three times more likely to take their own lives than women. Additionally, men are less likely to access psychological therapies, with only 36% of NHS mental health referrals being for men. The automotive industry, where men outnumber women four to one, can play a vital role in helping to improve awareness around support available and removing any perceived stigma.

Richard Smith, General Manager at Bristol Street Motors York Renault Dacia, said: “Supporting men’s mental health is incredibly important, especially in the automotive industry, where 80% of the workforce is male. While flowers are a nice gesture to show our appreciation for a customer’s loyalty, we felt that being able to support a charity making a real and positive impact in our community was a better way to spend money.

“Jessica Bright has been key in driving this initiative and I’m really proud of her for making it happen. Menfullness’s approach of building a support network is important – too many people feel they don’t have anywhere to turn. If more people had a safety net and relationships with other men where they feel safe and supported, I think we would see fewer issues. The power of being able to talk and feel listened to cannot be underestimated.”

Matty Lewis, one of the co-founders of Menfulness said: “Men’s mental health has become a topic spoken about more and more, but we need to continue talking about it and breaking the stigma surrounding it. Having a well-known brand like Bristol Street Motors help drive the conversation forward can only be a good thing.

“Men’s support groups can provide a place to become part of something where they can express themselves. The customers choosing to support us help to fund our work, with every penny raised going towards our groups - allowing us to continue providing a safe space for men to talk, socialise, and support each other - and life-changing and life-saving private counselling, available within 24 hours of contacting us.

“The partnership really helps shine a light on what we do, and if one bloke reaches out or receives help as a result, it’s worth its weight in gold.”