Mental Health Coach Piers Day Launches Initiative to Combat Loneliness in Young British Males

Award-winning mental health coach and host of the Life Talks podcast, Piers Day, is launching a bold new initiative aimed at curbing the escalating crisis of loneliness among young males in the UK. With a reputation for his heartfelt and direct approach, Piers is tackling what he considers one of the most urgent and under-discussed problems impacting teenage boys and young men.

Findings from the Campaign to End Loneliness reveal that more than a third of young men aged 16–24 now say they feel lonely “often or always” — a statistic that has more than doubled over the past five years. The Office for National Statistics also indicates that men in this age group are significantly less likely than their female counterparts to seek out mental health support. NHS data underscores the crisis, reporting a 22% year-on-year rise in emergency hospital visits for mental health issues among young men, with disconnection and lack of life direction cited as major causes.

Piers highlights a specific vulnerability around key life transitions. “We push boys to work hard and focus on exams, but no one prepares them for the moment after. The structure disappears, peer groups break apart, and suddenly they’re expected to just get on with it, alone. That silence is damaging,” he said.

The newly launched project is designed to offer hands-on support in the form of live workshops, online content, peer networks, and tailored coaching for young men at these pivotal crossroads. It steers away from traditional therapy, instead helping individuals rebuild identity and a sense of purpose through authentic human engagement. “Loneliness isn’t just about being physically alone. It’s about emotional disconnection, and it can lead to serious mental health consequences if left unaddressed,” he added.

Already, several young men have benefited from the programme. Tom, aged 18, had lost motivation at college and withdrawn socially after his closest friend moved abroad. Within six weeks of working with Piers, he returned to his studies and started volunteering. Jake, 22, turned to alcohol after leaving university. He’s now sober, in business for himself, and rebuilding relationships with his family. Matt, 16, who felt isolated and out of place after finishing school, said: “Talking with Piers made me realise I’m not broken. I just needed someone to listen.”

The initiative builds on the popularity of the Life Talks podcast, where Piers hosts in-depth conversations about anger, trauma, healing, and family. A previous interview with entrepreneur Jim Francis, focused on childhood experiences and their long-term impact, particularly struck a chord with listeners. Piers remains committed to alternatives to medication. “People don’t always need pills — they need perspective, and someone to help them find it.”

Now fully recovered from his own recent health scare, Piers is prioritising this mission and hopes to expand the programme across schools, colleges, and youth hubs. He’s currently welcoming collaboration from local partners. “This isn’t therapy. It’s something far more basic and more powerful — human connection,” he said. “We need to make it okay for young men to say they feel lost and we need to show them that speaking up is not weakness — it’s the beginning of strength.”