Free mental health app launched to help men across Northern Ireland before crisis point
Pictured from left are Darren Stirling, Ryan McKenzie, Jonathan Pankhurst, Kyle Rae and Paul Stirling at the launch of Whataboutye M.A.T.Es’ free Mental Health Toolbox app, developed to help men across Northern Ireland look after their mental wellbeing and find support before reaching crisis point.
Sunday 25 October 2026
A free mental health app created by a Northern Ireland men's support group has been launched to help men recognise when they are struggling, manage their wellbeing and find support before reaching crisis point.
The Mental Health Toolbox, developed by East Belfast social enterprise Whataboutye M.A.T.Es, offers mood tracking, practical self-help resources and information about support services across Northern Ireland.
The app grew from conversations with men who found regular group activities helpful but wanted somewhere to turn between meetings, particularly late at night or during difficult moments when support might feel harder to access.
Launched on Friday 23 October at East Belfast Community Development Agency, with support from East Belfast Alternatives, the free resource is designed to make taking the first step towards seeking help a little easier.
Practical support when men need it
The Mental Health Toolbox allows users to record their mood, check in with how they are feeling and access information about Northern Ireland-specific helplines and support services.
Designed to keep users' data on their own device, it brings together practical wellbeing tools and guidance in one place. It is intended to complement existing support rather than replace counselling, medical treatment or emergency crisis services.
Managing Director Kyle Rae explained that the idea came directly from men attending the group's activities.
He said:
“The idea came from listening to the men in our group. Meeting up was helping, but they wanted something they could turn to between sessions, particularly late at night or during a difficult day.
“The Mental Health Toolbox brings practical resources and information about support together in one place. We hope it gives men the confidence to take that next step, whether that is speaking to a mate, joining us for a walk or asking for professional help.”
From football and takeaways to a growing support network
The organisation behind the app began more than three years ago with something simple: friends getting together to watch football, enjoy a takeaway and spend time in each other's company.
Local businesses, including Eddie Spence's chip shop, helped support the gatherings by providing free or discounted food. Group member Darren later introduced a gym class at his workplace before the football, creating another opportunity for the men to connect and look after their wellbeing.
Those informal meetings gradually developed into a wider support network, with Whataboutye M.A.T.Es becoming a community interest company in June 2026.
Today, the organisation runs weekly Walk, Talk, Connect sessions at locations including Cave Hill and Titanic Quarter, alongside workplace talks about mental health and wellbeing.
M.A.T.Es stands for Men And Their Emotions and Managing And Treating Emotional Stress. Its name draws on the familiar Northern Ireland greeting “What about ye?”, encouraging men to use an everyday question as an opportunity for an honest conversation.
A personal experience of loneliness and depression
For Chief Executive Johnny Pankhurst, the organisation's work is rooted in his own experience of depression and loneliness while working away from his family as a senior construction manager at Heathrow Airport.
Despite holding a responsible position, he struggled with missing his children growing up and the isolation of living away from home. Having also lost friends and family members to suicide, he became a lead ambassador for mental health and wellbeing at the airport, supporting colleagues across the workforce.
After returning to Northern Ireland, Johnny joined friends already running the men's group and helped establish the social enterprise.
He said:
“I had a good job and plenty of responsibility, but I was lonely and missing my boys growing up. From the outside, people might have thought everything was going well. That wasn’t how I felt.
“Being involved in this group has helped me become a better dad, husband and friend. The things we encourage other men to do are things we practise in our own lives.
“Some men want to talk straight away. Others need time. You don’t need to explain everything on your first walk. Come along, get to know us and take it from there.”
Finding friendship while facing personal struggles
Another group member, Glenn, described how attending walks and watching football with others helped him move away from isolation while struggling with gambling and drinking.
He said:
“I kept thinking I could sort it out myself. I wasn’t being honest with the people closest to me, and keeping everything to myself left me feeling more alone.
“What helped was having something to go along to, whether that was a walk or watching the football. I could get to know people without feeling I had to explain everything straight away.
“I still have things to work through. But making friends and having people I can speak honestly to has changed my life. I don’t feel so alone with it anymore.”
His experience reflects the approach taken by Whataboutye M.A.T.Es, where men can initially take part in ordinary social activities without feeling pressured to discuss personal difficulties before they are ready.
Community partnership helps bring app to wider audience
The Mental Health Toolbox was launched with the support of East Belfast Alternatives, whose involvement has helped the organisation bring the resource to a wider audience.
Carlie Martin, of East Belfast Alternatives, said:
“We are delighted to support and collaborate with Whataboutye M.A.T.Es on the launch of the Mental Health Toolbox.
“What makes this resource special is that it has grown from men coming together, sharing their experiences and supporting one another. They recognised the need for practical resources that were easy to access and have drawn on those conversations to create something that could help others.
“It shows what can be achieved when people within a community work together to support each other. We are proud to be involved and look forward to seeing the toolbox help more men look after their mental wellbeing, with benefits for their families too.”
Kyle Rae also paid tribute to the volunteers who continue to support the organisation's activities.
He said:
“I also want to thank every volunteer at Whataboutye M.A.T.Es. They give their time, listen and offer encouragement week after week. That commitment is at the heart of the group and makes a real difference to the men who come along.”
How to access the Mental Health Toolbox and get involved
The free Mental Health Toolbox is intended for men across Northern Ireland, including those who may not currently attend a support group but would benefit from practical resources and information about available help.
Men interested in joining Whataboutye M.A.T.Es can also find out more about its walking groups, community activities and wider support network.
• Website: www.whataboutyemates.com
• Email: kyle.whataboutye.mates@gmail.com
The organisation hopes the app will help more men take an early step towards looking after their mental health, whether that means checking in with themselves, talking to a friend, joining a group activity or seeking professional support.
For men who might otherwise keep their difficulties to themselves, the message behind the project is straightforward: they do not have to wait until things reach crisis point before reaching out.
