November has been the month of raising awareness for men’s mental health and, we are proud supporters and participants of this movement. Although November is coming to an end soon, it does not mean that this is the end of the conversation about men’s mental health, it is just the beginning. There are so many reasons why we should keep this movement ignited even past November; have a read of some statistics.
- Men are 3x more likely to die by suicide compared to females across all age groups (Samaritans, 2023)
- 5,656 suicides were registered in 2023 and 74% of them were males. (Samaritans, 2023)
- 74% of those admitted to hospital for drug-related mental and behavioural disorders are men (Counselling Directory)
- 46% would feel embarrassed or ashamed to tell their employer about mental health problems.
These are just the statistics that we know, the number is likely to be higher because so many men don’t feel comfortable to speak about their mental health. Often times they go undiagnosed, and therefore suffer in silence.
What can be done about this?
For the men reading, the first step to reducing these statistics and many other similar ones is to start talking about your mental health issues. If you have a friend you can trust, speak to them and start sharing more about your day, and your feelings. Eventually, you can start sharing your personal struggles and hardships on a deeper level. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice if you need it.
For the women reading this, the men around you may appear to be okay and strong, and they probably are but, they also go through hardships. Make it easier for them to open up, ask them about their day, and most importantly, how they’re feeling. Depending on the dynamics of your relationship, it may take a while for him to get comfortable talking about his feelings, but keep trying.
I’m still not comfortable talking about my feelings
It can be very hard to talk about your feelings if it’s something you haven’t been used to. If you can’t open up to someone you know, you can start by talking to support organisations for men’s mental health. Below are some organisations that exist to support men with their mental health and offer a variety of support groups, therapy, articles, courses, workshops and so much more for men to get involved with.
If you’d like to do an online screening for your mental health, try Harry’s Campaign.