Stephen Fry Sounds Alarm: Lives in Peril, Calls for National Emergency

Stephen Fry has issued a compelling call to address the "national emergency" of men’s mental health, emphasizing that lives are at stake. The actor and comedian, known for his role in Celebrity Traitors, has spoken openly about his own struggles with bipolar disorder. He urges for "strides" rather than just "steps" in tackling this issue. In a powerful article, Sir Stephen acknowledges the government's newly announced men’s health strategy but stresses that "recognition alone does not save lives." At 68, he has been knighted for his contributions to mental health awareness and highlights how suicide is the leading cause of death among men under 50.

He reflects on his personal experiences, stating that for many, the thought of ending one’s life can become a daily companion until the right support arrives. Sir Stephen, who is also the president of the mental health charity Mind, adds: “Applause is not treatment. Warm words won’t catch someone as they fall. What is required now is action, investment, and a genuine transformation of our mental health services.”

The government recently launched a plan to address the physical and mental health challenges faced by men and boys. This includes an investment of £3.6 million over the next three years in suicide prevention projects for middle-aged men in high-risk areas across England. Additionally, the initiative aims to expand school mental health teams so that an extra 900,000 pupils can access support by April 2026.

However, Sir Stephen argues that real change requires sustained and serious investment. He states: “We welcome the government’s aims, but far more must be done to ensure it meets the scale of need. It means training more therapists, opening more counselling services, and ensuring help is available in every community. It means creating spaces where men feel comfortable asking for help—services designed together with the communities they’re meant to serve, not imposed from above.”

Sir Stephen, whose film credits include Wilde, Gosford Park, and two Hobbit films, references his recent appearance on BBC’s The Celebrity Traitors. He explains how watching a group of strangers—many of them men—quickly form genuine bonds and actively support each other was striking. “There was real camaraderie and a willingness to be publicly vulnerable with one another in ways that might have seemed impossible at the start. It didn’t require complicated interventions or special training—just people given the space and permission to connect,” he says.

This experience reminded him that men do open up and connect deeply when environments are created where it feels safe to do so.

According to NHS survey data, about one in six men in England (15.4%) suffered from a common mental health condition, such as depression or OCD, in 2023-4. Although the figure is higher for women (24.2%), men are much more likely to die by suicide. The charity Samaritans warns that social expectations placed on men may make them less likely to disclose or seek help for suicidal thoughts or behaviours compared to women.

In his piece, Sir Stephen adds: “We can no longer afford to treat mental health as a secondary concern, to be addressed once everything else is in order. Data consistently shows that suicide is the leading cause of death among men under 50 in the UK. It is not a niche issue—it’s a national emergency. The government has taken a step forward, and that deserves recognition—but steps, however well-intentioned, will not suffice. We need strides: strides that turn words into action, promises into properly funded services. The moment for action is now. Lives depend on it.”

The Office for National Statistics notes that there were 6,190 suicides registered in England and Wales in 2024, with a similar rate to 2023. For males, the suicide rate remained relatively unchanged at 17.6 per 100,000 people, while for females, it stayed stable at 5.7 per 100,000.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The first ever Men’s Health Strategy is a turning point in how we approach men’s mental health, and is backed by an investment of £3.6 million over the next few years in suicide prevention projects. We know there is more to do, but we're working at pace to transform mental health services, investing £688 million in additional funding this year, hiring 8,500 more mental health workers and expanding NHS Talking therapies.”

The Samaritans operate a free 24/7 helpline on 116 123. To support Mind’s Christmas appeal, visit mind.org.uk/donate/.