Award-winning coach and Life Talks host Piers Day has unveiled a new UK-wide initiative designed to combat the growing crisis of loneliness among teenage boys and young men. Celebrated for his honest and intuitive approach to mental health, Piers is addressing what he calls a “silent epidemic” affecting an entire generation of young males.
Data from the Campaign to End Loneliness shows that more than a third of men aged 16 to 24 report feeling lonely “often or always” — more than double the figure reported just five years ago. Meanwhile, ONS data reveals that men in this age group are significantly less likely than women to ask for help. NHS figures have also recorded a 22% increase in mental health-related A&E admissions among young men, with loss of routine and social isolation playing key roles.
Piers says this trend often intensifies after academic 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 new initiative includes face-to-face workshops, online materials, and individualised peer coaching. Targeting young men during life’s in-between moments, the approach emphasises emotional connection over clinical treatment. “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,” Piers explained.
Several young men have already benefited. Tom, 18, became disengaged at college after his best friend relocated, but after six weeks of support, he has returned to his studies and begun volunteering. Jake, 22, turned to alcohol after leaving university but is now sober, running a small business, and reconnecting with loved ones. Matt, 16, who felt isolated after finishing his GCSEs, said: “Talking with Piers made me realise I’m not broken. I just needed someone to listen.”
This initiative follows the popularity of Piers’ Life Talks podcast, where deeply personal conversations explore issues such as trauma, recovery, and emotional honesty. An earlier episode featuring business leader Jim Francis, discussing the impact of childhood experiences, received strong praise from both parents and teens. Piers advocates for a grounded alternative to medication. “People don’t always need pills — they need perspective, and someone to help them find it.”
Now fully recovered from a personal health scare, Piers is committed to expanding the programme nationwide and is calling on schools, local authorities, and community leaders to collaborate. “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.”
