Many men grow up with an unspoken rule: maintain composure. Don't show vulnerability. Handle it on your own. For generations, this rule has quietly but significantly caused harm, and the statistics support this.
Men's mental health is in a state of crisis. It's not that men are naturally more troubled than women, but rather that societal systems, stigmas, and cultural norms around masculinity make it much more difficult for men to seek help, speak openly, or even acknowledge when there's a problem.
This Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, we aim to disrupt this pattern. We also want to highlight the significant positive impact skateboarding, and outdoor action sports in general, can have.
The Reality: Men Are Suffering in Silence
The figures are alarming.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK. In 2024, the male suicide rate was 17.6 per 100,000 - about three times higher than the female rate of 5.7 per 100,000. Men make up approximately 75% of all suicide deaths in the UK, a trend consistent since the mid-1990s.
Why aren't men reaching out for help? Perceived stigma is identified by 22% of men as the main obstacle to accessing mental health services. Only 36% of NHS Talking Therapies referrals are for men, despite their significant mental health needs.
The real issue is the gap between the need for help and the willingness to seek it. Even though men experience mental health issues at rates similar to women, they are much less likely to pursue psychological treatments.
The consequences appear in other areas too. Men are more prone to resort to harmful coping mechanisms, such as excessive drinking and substance abuse. Instead of dealing with difficult emotions, many men turn to alcohol, immerse themselves in work, or simply withdraw.
In England, one in five adults is living with a common mental health issue, with the rate at 15.4% among men. While this is lower than that for women on paper, it almost certainly doesn't reflect the true situation, as men are far less likely to self-report or seek a diagnosis in the first place.
Why Men Find It So Hard to Open Up
Understanding why men find it difficult to discuss mental health is as crucial as knowing the statistics.
Much of it is related to identity. Many men, particularly from older generations but also younger ones, have absorbed the belief that vulnerability equates to weakness. Needing support is seen as a failure in "being a man." Therapy, emotional honesty, or even admitting to having a tough week can feel like a betrayal of an identity centred around self-reliance.
Work also plays a significant role. Cultural barriers to seeking help are especially pronounced in fields like construction, agriculture, and the military, where toughness is part of the professional identity. Construction workers face suicide rates 3.7 times higher than the general population.
Then there is the systemic aspect. Mental health services have historically been designed in ways that are more suitable for women; for example, talking therapy fits a communication style that many men haven't been encouraged to develop. Men often need a different approach.
That's where activity-based methods, specifically skateboarding, come into their own.
Skateboarding and Mental Health: The Research
It might seem like we're a bit biased (and we are), but studies genuinely show that skateboarding benefits mental health.
Research carried out by Instinct Laboratory and Flo Skatepark revealed a strong link between skateboarding and improved mental health. It found that engaging in the sport can relieve stress, boost confidence, and offer a sense of escape. Participants reported that skateboarding helps reduce boredom, manage emotions, and build the kind of quiet, persistent confidence that comes from mastering something truly challenging.
A significant study from the University of California — supported by the Tony Hawk Foundation — concluded that skateboarding enhances mental health, builds community, and encourages resilience. Focusing on individuals aged 13 to 25, the study found that skateboarding helps alleviate stress.
There's something uniquely powerful about how skateboarding creates what researchers describe as a state of "flow," a complete immersion in the current moment. The focus and engagement required for skateboarding give participants a sense of well-being and calm. When you're trying to land a trick, your mind doesn't have the capacity to spiral into negative thoughts.
The social aspect is also incredibly important. Studies from the University of Southern California indicate that through skateboarding, skaters develop the ability to communicate and form relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Skaters are excellent critical thinkers and problem-solvers who view success from a more collective perspective.
For men who find it hard to open up in conventional "talking" settings, the skatepark provides an alternative: a space to simply be with others, side by side, without the pressure of direct emotional conversation. This is important. Connection doesn't always need to be verbal.
The Benefits of Getting Outside
At its core, skateboarding is an outdoor activity, which adds another layer of mental health benefits.
Research consistently indicates that people who exercise regularly have better mental health and emotional well-being, along with lower rates of mental illness. For mild to moderate depression, physical activity can be as effective as antidepressants or psychological treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy.
However, exercising outdoors specifically adds additional benefits. Individuals report higher levels of vitality, enthusiasm, enjoyment, and self-esteem, and lower levels of tension, depression, and fatigue after exercising outdoors compared to indoors. Those who exercise outside also tend to do so more frequently and for longer periods.
A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being compared the psychological effects of physical activity in natural outdoor settings versus urban outdoor settings, and found significant or moderate effects favouring natural environments for reducing anxiety, fatigue, and improving positive feelings and energy.
Studies on men's physical activity and mental health emphasize the crucial role of leisure-time activities involving social interactions for men with lower mental wellbeing. Skateboarding fits all these criteria perfectly.
Skaters Speaking Out
Some leading figures in skateboarding have been remarkably open about their own struggles with mental health — and this transparency is more significant than it might appear. When a role model shares their difficulties, it encourages others to do the same.
Tony Hawk
The individual credited with turning skateboarding into a global movement has spoken openly about the pressures athletes endure and the mental health issues often left unaddressed in the sport. In a discussion on skateboarding's evolving culture, Hawk remarked on his peers: "Many of my peers suffered. I believe skateboarding can significantly benefit your mental health because it teaches you a lot about your abilities and finding your own way." He also advocated for improved mental health support in the sport, stating: "While I respect families' privacy, I think it's important to bring these issues to light so people understand that everyone struggles."
Hawk has utilized his platform to actively promote awareness, including auctioning a skateboard painted with Kurt Cobain's image to raise funds for mental health resources and skatepark projects, expressing his hope "to turn this acquisition into something positive by raising awareness for emotional health and providing resources for those facing mental challenges."
His foundation — now called The Skatepark Project — supports and finances high-quality public skateparks in low-income communities across the United States, with the clear goal of promoting healthy, active lifestyles and enhancing youths' lives through skateboarding. The social infrastructure of the skatepark itself serves as a mental health intervention.
Ryan Sheckler
Few skaters have been as publicly candid about their personal challenges as Ryan Sheckler. A professional since 13 and the star of MTV's Life of Ryan, Sheckler has openly discussed the impact of early fame and the drinking habit he developed as his competitive career declined. In 2016, Sheckler entered rehab to address his alcohol addiction. During his recovery, he found his faith and became a born-again Christian, describing the experience as "an opportunity to grow spiritually, mentally, and physically."
After about 18 months of sobriety, Sheckler reported feeling better physically and mentally than ever before, and his skateboarding also improved. "I go into my park, start skating, and before I know it, three hours have passed. My body is prepared for anything. Not just skateboarding, but life in general. Whatever comes my way, I'm ready for it."
His story resonates not because it's tidy or victorious, but because it's genuine. He struggled, sought help from his mum and community — and he emerged from it. He also founded The Sheckler Foundation with his mother to "be the change" for children and injured athletes in action sports.
Nyjah Huston
One of the most accomplished street skaters globally, Nyjah Huston has been open about the mental burden of elite competition. As he prepared for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Huston reflected on a change in his perspective: "I've always been very competitive. If I didn't perform well in a contest, I would be really hard on myself." His openness about this pressure and the effort he made to alter his relationship with performance speaks to an experience many men will recognize: the cost of basing your entire self-worth on results.
What This All Means
Men don't need to be fixed. They need better access to support — and for many, skateboarding provides exactly that.
It's a sport founded on community without judgement. A place where failure is expected, repetition is valued, and progress is highly personal. Where you're not compared against anyone else, only your previous attempt. And where simply showing up, even on a bad day, even just to roll around, is enough.
Skating triggers the release of dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins in the brain. It keeps people active and reduces time spent on devices associated with anxiety, depression, isolation, and low self-esteem.
If you're struggling, or know someone who is, remember there are people willing to help:
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Samaritans: Call 116 123 (free, 24/7)
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CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably): Call 0800 58 58 58 or visit thecalmzone.net
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Mind: Visit mind.org.uk
And if you're not ready for any of that yet, get on a board. You might be surprised by what a session can achieve.