Podcast-on-Prescription: Dr Simon Opher MP launches men’s mental fitness talks with NHS, Brimscombe Mill and Craic Health
Craic is a proud partner of: Simon Says, Let’s Talk is a groundbreaking new men’s mental health podcast series where audiences are prescribed a ticket to attend
PRESS RELEASE
A brand-new men’s mental health podcast series is launching from Gloucestershire, created to get Britain talking and the world listening.
Simon Says, Let’s Talk is hosted by Dr Simon Opher MBE (GP) supported by the NHS, Brimscombe Mill, and Craic Health. Each episode brings together leading voices from comedy, music, art and sport to share real stories and practical tools for better mental fitness: by men, with men, for men.
The series launches in response to a growing men’s health crisis — with men accounting for 75% of suicides, over double the rate of drug- and alcohol-related deaths, and being more likely to live alone, be incarcerated, or struggle in education, relationships, and community life. Simon Says, Let’s Talk uses humour, honesty, and real conversation to help men reconnect and find new pathways to live a meaningful life.
The first live recording takes place on Wednesday 20 November at Brimscombe Mill in the Sanctuary Space, featuring inaugural guest, Tom Walker (aka fictitious news reporter Jonathan Pie). With limited seats available, audiences can be part of the conversation in the room before it’s shared globally as a video and audio podcast.
What makes Simon Says, Let’s Talk groundbreaking is that it’s a podcast people can be prescribed to attend. Through Gloucestershire’s NHS social prescribing network, local GPs, and clinicians are offering tickets directly to patients who may benefit most, turning conversation itself into a creative-health intervention. NHS clinicians will also be present at each event, giving attendees the opportunity to continue conversations privately afterwards.
Simon Says, Let’s Talk events are open for men and those who support them.
EVENT DETAILS
Each evening will be recorded and shared more widely, extending its impact:
🎙️ Podcast (video and audio) available on Craic Health and Brimscombe Mill
🎥 A film released on YouTube and Craic Health
First episode: Simon Says, Let’s Talk: In Conversation with Tom Walker
Date: Thursday 20th November, 7-9pm
Venue: Sanctuary Space, Brimscombe Mill, Gloucestershire
Tickets: Free to those offered them by GPs and available to the wider public on a pay-as-you-can basis — people must register, whether free (prescribed) or paid.
Podcast and film: Coming soon to Craic Health and Brimscombe Mill
QUOTES
Dr Simon Opher MBE, MP said:
“As a GP of over 30 years, I’ve seen firsthand the damaging impact of rising inequality on our health - both physical and mental. Moving from GP to MP, I went into politics to help people by changing the system from the inside out — the answer is political, not medical. One of the most undervalued but vital areas is social prescribing and creative health.
Poor mental health in England now costs our society around £300 billion a year — the equivalent of a pandemic annually. We must intervene earlier and find practical, human solutions. Social isolation is one of the greatest risks to our health and men in particular find it hard to talk—in the UK, men die by suicide at three times the rate of women.
My hope with the Simon Says, Let’s Talk series is to help men realise they’re not alone — creating open spaces where leading voices share how they manage their own mental fitness. Through arts, culture and sport, we can support men’s mental health as well as overall wellbeing — and remind people that connection itself is medicine.”
Louisa Jackson, Founder of Craic Health CIC, said:
“We’ve never been more digitally connected, yet lonelier and more isolated. Laughter is one of the most human ways to reconnect — with ourselves, and with each other. Craic Health is pioneering Comedy-on-Prescription® so the comedy artform is accessible to everyone as a creative healthcare solution — known side effects: laughter. With Dr Simon Opher and partners, we’re building NHS pathways to make comedy a measurable health intervention. Simon Says, Let’s Talk is part of that plan — helping men, and those who support them. It’s often said men don’t have enough positive male role models, and that’s exactly what Dr Opher and his guests represent — a fun, honest, and relatable way to strengthen mental fitness together.”
Hannah Gorf, Senior Programme Manager for Healthy Communities and Individuals at NHS Gloucestershire, said:
“Social prescribing is about connecting people to what matters to them — and recognising that creativity, laughter and community are powerful medicines in their own right. We’re proud to support this collaboration between Dr Opher, Craic Health and Brimscombe Mill, which brings the principles of creative health directly into local spaces where people can feel seen, supported and inspired. Anyone curious about social prescribing can speak to their GP practice and ask to be referred to their local Link Worker, who can help them find activities and connections that improve wellbeing.”
Jess Herbert from Brimscombe Mill said:
“At Brimscombe Mill, we’ve learned how to bring people together to tackle the challenges that affect us all, from food insecurity to loneliness and isolation. Simon Says, Let’s Talk is an exciting new opportunity to build on that experience. Working with Dr Simon Opher alongside the NHS and Craic Health to explore men’s mental health in a more creative, human way. This series shows how collaboration can turn conversation itself into a form of care.”
WHY DOES MEN’S HEALTH MATTER: RELATED STATS
| Issue | Stat (concise) | Region | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suicide |
75% of suicides in the UK are male (≈3× the rate of women). Northern Ireland: 28.5% most deprived vs 13.1% least deprived. Scotland: 2.4× higher in most deprived areas. Young people (13–24, 2024): Trans men 72% considered; 30% attempted. Trans women 68% considered; 23% attempted. |
UK | NSPA • NISRA • NRS • Trevor Project |
| Drug-related deaths | 2023: 3,645 male vs 1,803 female — over double in men. | England & Wales | ONS bulletin |
| Alcohol-specific deaths | 2023: 10,473 deaths — 21.9/million men vs 10.3/million women. | England & Wales | ONS bulletin |
| Living alone | Increase in men living alone: +415k vs women +204k (2023). | UK | ONS 2023 |
| Living with parents | 20–34 year-olds: 33% men vs 22% women (2023). | UK | ONS 2023 |
| Single / intimacy |
63% of men under 30 single vs 34% of women (US). 30% of men 18–24 reported no sex in past year (up from 19%). Rising porn-linked ED & delayed ejaculation under 40. |
US | Pew Research • Lei & South (2021) • Dwulit & Rzymski (2019) |
| Higher education | By age 19: 54% women vs 40% men in higher education. | UK | House of Commons Library (2024) |
| NEET (16–24) | 946k total — 15.1% men vs 11.2% women (2024). | UK | ONS (2024) |
| Prison population | 96% men, 4% women in prison (2025). | UK | MoJ Data |
| Domestic violence | ~75% victims are women; ~90% perpetrators are men. | England & Wales | ONS (2024) |
| Mental health crisis | By 2030, depression projected to be leading global cause of illness. | Global | WHO (EB130/9) |
| Cost to society | Mental ill health costs England ~£300bn per year. | England | Centre for Mental Health (2024) |
| Antidepressant use |
~10.7m adults (~1/5). England: 8.9m; Scotland: 1m; NI: 391k; Wales: 520k (2024/25). |
UK | NHSBSA • BSO (NI) • Gov Scot • Gov Wales |
| Prevention (social prescribing) | £2.14–£8.56 return per £1 invested (reduced GP, A&E, hospital visits). | England | NASP/NHS review |
Media note: If covering suicide-related issues, please consider Samaritans’ media guidelines on reporting.
PROJECT PARTNERS
ABOUT DR SIMON OPHER MP, MBE
Dr Simon Opher has been a GP in Dursley for over 30 years. He was awarded an MBE for being a pioneer of social prescribing. Renowned for revolutionising healthcare through the integration of artists and creative arts into patient care—an approach now embedded in national NHS policy—his ARTlift programme in Gloucestershire provided arts-based interventions that significantly improved mental health, social connection, and long-term condition management. His work has spurred widespread adoption of creativity in healthcare, shaping the future of social prescribing and demonstrating that the arts are a powerful tool for recovery, resilience, and wellbeing.
ABOUT CRAIC HEALTH
Craic is the operating system for the comedy industry — including Craic Health, the Comedy-on-Prescription® hub. We connect and support the comedy industry, healthcare teams, and communities to use comedy as both a health intervention and a conduit for social connection. Through Craic technologies, we digitally equip comedy providers so GPs and Link Workers can safely refer patients to verified, laughter-led programmes and events. Craic is already working with NHS partners to build this pathway, with full integration in progress. Our mission: to make comedy within social prescribing accessible, human, data-informed, and fun.
ABOUT NHS GLOUCESTERSHIRE - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS
NHS Gloucestershire’s Healthy Communities and Individuals programme focuses on prevention and community wellbeing. We work with GP practices, Primary Care Networks and Link Workers, local councils, VCSE, and private partners to connect people to what matters—social prescribing, creative health, physical activity, volunteering and peer support. Our goal is to reduce health inequalities, strengthen social connection, and improve mental and physical wellbeing across the county, including through the Gloucestershire Creative Health Consortium.
ABOUT BRIMSCOMBE MILL
Brimscombe Mill is a social enterprise hub recognised as an innovative business for doing things differently, with experience working alongside supporters such as The NHS to tackle challenges like mental health, obesity and isolation. Brimscombe Mill was invited to host Simon Says, Let’s Talk because it exemplifies how community and creativity can work hand in hand to improve wellbeing on the ground.
When the Mill faced eviction from its home in 2024, it was the community that stepped in with support that was covered nationally, influential allies and a surprise pledge from Daniel Craig that helped to secure its future. Following this support a local philanthropist bought the buildings for the community, ensuring the work could continue. Brimscombe Mill is built on mutual care where the community looks after The Mill as The Mill looks after the community. We are building a local “doughnut economy” where people and planet can flourish one creative idea at a time.
Brimscombe Mill is a social enterprise hub in Gloucestershire employing local people, connecting thousands through shared meals, reuse projects, creativity and community events. Our businesses here, The Long Table, Kids Stuff, The Home Remedy and The Bike Drop are working to build a fairer, more connected local economy.
