Crisis centre for men backed by research

A vital crisis service for men has expanded across the country in part thanks to evidence provided by psychologists at LJMU.

James’ Place, which offers free, life-saving treatment to suicidal men started in Liverpool and has expanded to London, Newcastle and Birmingham, saving more than 5,000 lives.

Research led by Professor Pooja Saini and her team has provided a robust evidence base that has directly informed strategic planning for the expansion of this community‑based service.

In her latest independent study of the methods and impact of the charity’s work, Professor Saini found that men attending James’ Place continue to experience significant improvements in psychological wellbeing and reductions in feelings of entrapment following therapeutic support for suicidal crisis.

Tragedy

James’s Place was founded by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley following the tragic death of their son James in December 2006. James was 21 years old and studying at university.

Their treatments, including at their Catherine Street centre in Liverpool, are quick to access and delivered in a safe, friendly, non-clinical environment by trained, professional therapists.

The latest evaluation analysed clinical data from 3,993 men referred to James’ Place between July 2022 and August 2024, examining outcomes across the Liverpool, London and Newcastle centres. The two-year study was designed and co-produced with a stakeholder group including academics, clinicians and people with lived experience of suicidal crisis.

The research found that the majority of men who completed therapy experienced statistically significant reductions in psychological distress and feelings of entrapment between their initial assessment and the end of treatment.

Model for men in suicidal crisis

Professor Pooja Saini, Professor of Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention at Liverpool John Moores University, said: "Five years of independent evaluation continue to demonstrate the positive impact of the James’ Place model for men experiencing suicidal crisis. Importantly, these positive outcomes have been maintained as the service has expanded beyond its original Liverpool centre."

The evaluation also found that the James’ Place model delivers significant social value, creating positive impacts not only for the men who access support, but also for their families, friends, employers, educational institutions and wider public services, including the NHS.

The evaluation (link to report: https://www.jamesplace.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/James-Place-Year-5-Evaluation-Final-October-2025-1-1.pdf) recommends continued monitoring of outcomes across centres, the introduction of additional measures such as resilience, and longer-term follow-up to better understand how improvements are sustained over time.