The Men Minds project aimed to understand more about young men’s mental health in Scotland. The project was coproduced with a Young People’s Forum of 10 young men aged 16-24, who helped to shape and undertake the research, including conducting interviews, focus groups and surveys with 60 of their peers across Scotland – in art galleries, offices, prisons, parks and online.
After learning that many young men in Scotland felt isolated and alone in their mental health, Men Minds worked to normalise conversations about mental health and reduce stigma. To do this, they created a free comic aimed at boys and young men, produced in conjunction with artists at UniVerse Comics at the University of Dundee. A copy of the comic was shared with every school and college in Scotland.
Now, Glasgow City Council’s Education Services are taking on the mantle. Inspired by the work of Men Minds, they are launching a year-long Young Men’s Minds programme in Glasgow schools. Led by Principal Educational Psychologist, Barry Syme, Young Men’s Minds will commence with a conference involving boys from each of the city’s secondary schools, along with teachers, educational psychologists, mentors and third sector partners. Young men from Men Minds will be in attendance to share their experiences of taking part. Following the conference, Young Men’s Minds groups will explore the issues affecting boys’ wellbeing in their schools, and will work with other pupils, school staff and mentors to codesign solutions to these issues. CYCJ and the University of Strathclyde are providing research and participation support to schools throughout the duration of the project, and schools will report back at the end of the year to share their findings and achievements.
“It was amazing to witness the hard work and commitment that the young men brought to Men Minds. They showed what can be achieved when young men work together to provide peer support and to foster a sense of connection, belonging and self-worth. When we work alongside boys and young men, then we are more likely to create the changes needed to improve the wellbeing of boys, and all pupils, in our schools. I am so pleased that Glasgow City Council have decided to establish this programme, and I can’t wait to see what these Young Men’s Minds groups will achieve in 2026.” – Dr Nina Vaswani, Senior Research Fellow of the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ), who led on the Men Minds research alongside colleagues from the University of Strathclyde, the Mental Health Foundation, and Monash University.
“Great to have attended the inspiring Men Minds Project seminar at the University of Strathclyde. It reinforced the power of co-produced research with young people as a meaningful way to address issues we see affecting young men in our secondary schools. In partnership with Nina and her colleagues, Glasgow Education Services are excited to lead this work and explore what emerges from the research across all Glasgow secondary schools. We’re hopeful it will have a positive impact on young men’s mental health and wellbeing”. Barry Syme, Principal Educational Psychologist, Glasgow City Council
Download our free comic at www.menminds.org. Do get in touch if you want to discuss hosting a Young Men’s Minds programme in your local authority area.
To find out more about this work, please contact Dr Nina Vaswani:
Name: Dr Nina Vaswani
Tel: 0141 444 8622
Email: nina.vaswani@strath.ac.uk