Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month 🧠
Mental health is being discussed more now than ever before. It’s encouraging to see more people opening up about their mental health and educating ourselves to better understand and support one another.
Shining a supportive light on men’s mental health is particularly important, because men often don’t feel they can reach out for the support they need.
Picture caption: Things we need to normalise for men…
- Asking for help
- Going to therapy
- Sharing feelings
- Feeling emotions
- Being comforted
How can mental health such as depression effect men differently?
It’s important to understand that there are some differences between how mental health effects men and woman. Men are more likely to experience sudden anger or irritability as well as risk-taking or increased loss of control. Men might also use alcohol or drugs if they’re despressed rather than reaching out to talk.
Some sobering figures from the Office for National Statistics in 2023:
- There were 5,656 suicides, an increase of more than 372 than the year prior.
- The male suicide rate was 17.1% per 100,000. The female rate was 5.6%. That’s a staggering difference!
- It was found that males between 40 and 49 were found to have the highest suicide rate – 25.3% per 100,000.
There remains a stigma within Society about men’s mental health which continues to make it difficult for men and boys to reach out for support. Many men still feel like having a mental health condition is seen as a weakness and that they’re expected to hide their emotions, “man up”, and be strong for others around them.
It’s important we all continue to challenge the ongoing stigma that men don’t require mental health support. Be a safe space for the men in your life to talk openly about their mental health, and if you are experiencing anxiety, depression, or any other mental health concerns, you are not alone and there are places you can reach out to for support. That might be a family member or friend. There are also organisations you can turn to for support. I’ve listed a few below:
Comments
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@Santosha12 of course, thank you so much putting these together and sharing them. 💙
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Thanks for writing this @Holly_Scope, it's a really important topic.
Another resource for anyone who's struggling is Andy's Man Club:
ANDYSMANCLUB - It's Okay To Talk
They run volunteer-led support groups for men across the country, no pressure to talk if you don't want to, just non-clinical support for anyone who needs it.
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I just want any man reading this who might be struggling with his mental health to know that it’s human. We’re all wired very differently, and men are taught as boys that it’s somehow weak to admit that they’re not coping. But I know some very Brave men who have opened a workshop for this topic.
Far too often, men feel like they have to be the breadwinners of the family. The one who holds everyone around them in place. This can be so heavy. Too heavy sometimes, and it takes a really brave man to say I’m not coping with this. More and more places are shooting up now ‘finally’ to help men both young and old struggling to come to terms with something in their lives.Even if you don’t want to talk, there’s podcasts for men’s mental health by men.
Find what works for you personally 💚💚💙💙3 -
Hey @Grumpy1314 it's nice to see you again. I'm sorry to hear you've not managed to speak to the mental health team. Is that by choice?
I've popped you a little email, please be on the lookout for it. ❤️0 -
Mental Health issues, check what vitamins and supplements you can take.
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{Removed by moderator - medical advice}
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Hey @Dyslexia25 welcome to the community.
I'm afraid we cannot give medical advice on the community, as no one here is medically trained. Just something to remember.0 -
Ranadol, you have nothing to worry about then
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My hubby just finished his last appointment with counselling today. He had been going to counselling for his child hood abuse. They have been absolutely fantastic 2 years he as been going. Today they have told him because they have been taken over by someone else that he won't be able to go anymore unless he remembers anything else that happened to him. Where does he go from here he still as nightmares and flashbacks. He was also under neuropsychiatrist who told him just before lock down there is nothing they can do to help him anymore. They gave him a open appointment which he wanted to use this year but they told him is file had been closed go back to the GP. We went to the GP and they said they couldn't refer him again and there was no mental health help out there. Where does he go from here.
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I have a certificate for the administration of drugs to animals would that count
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Your such a spoilsport
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Hi @snuggles65 that's really disappointing to hear that there's a clear deadline for support, especially since it's been so helpful to your partner. There are charities that offer some free support, specifically for certain types of abuse so it's worth having a look into this. They often work with private therapists but there can be a waiting list, unfortunately. I'm currently using this facility and it's been a god send. I wish your partner all the best with his journey 💛
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