The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) will be launching a Men’s Mental Health Breakfast at the BIBA Conference 2026 as part of a new initiative to address mental wellbeing within the insurance sector.
The event, sponsored by Markel, is designed to create space for men in the industry to speak openly about their experiences and access practical support. It forms part of the conference’s broader theme, Time:TO Talk.
Speakers at the breakfast include Luke Ambler, chairman and co-founder of ANDYSMANCLUB; former professional footballer and podcast host Peter Crouch; and Steve Heath, director of Mental Health in Business. A panel of insurance industry figures will also participate.
The initiative comes against a backdrop of significant data on men’s mental health. A 2023 survey by The Priory of 1,000 UK men in midlife found that 77% had experienced symptoms of common mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, or depression, yet 40% had never spoken to anyone about their wellbeing.
Office for National Statistics (ONS) data published in October 2025 showed the male suicide rate in England and Wales reached 17.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2024 – the highest rate this century. Across the UK, an estimated 5,200 to 5,300 men die by suicide each year, equating to more than 14 a day, according to analysis by the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys.
The data also identified men aged 50 to 54 as the highest-risk group, with a rate of 27.5 per 100,000 in England and Wales.
BIBA chief executive Graeme Trudgill said the event is motivated by persistent gaps in men’s engagement with mental health support. According to data from Men’s Minds Matter cited by Trudgill, 47% of men believe there is stigma around seeking therapy, and only 36% of referrals for talking therapies are for men.
“It’s TIME:TO Talk about men’s mental health,” Trudgill said. “We want to create a space where men can share their stories and offer practical tips and advice so that we break the stigma and find common ground amongst friends and colleagues in the industry.”
Markel’s head of diversity, inclusion and community engagement, Julie Humphreys, said the company viewed wellbeing conversations as central to the sector’s strength. “Markel is proud to sponsor this year’s Men’s Mental Health Breakfast,” Humphreys said. “We believe conversations around wellbeing are essential to the strength and resilience of our sector, and we’re dedicated to playing an active role in creating space for them.”
ANDYSMANCLUB, which Ambler co-founded following the death of his brother-in-law, operates as a free, peer-to-peer support group for men aged 18 and over. The organisation runs more than 340 clubs nationwide, meeting every Monday from 7pm to 9pm, with nearly 7,000 men using its services each week.
