Calling all men! Get into the habit of regularly checking your mental health…
Did You Know…
- In England alone, 1 in 8 men has a common mental health problem and three times as many men as women die by suicide.
- Men are more likely than women to become dependent on alcohol or drugs
- Men are less likely to attend talking therapies – only 36% of NHS referrals are for men*
That’s why it’s never been more important than ever to check in with your own mental health – and to check in with the men in your life. Men and women aren’t so different when it comes to emotions – they are just brought up differently and given messages such as “men don’t cry” and “man up”. This leaves men feeling like they are unable to reach out for help and they are more likely to see mental health struggles as a sign of weakness.
Thankfully, there are so many great organisations that have been set up by men for men – to encourage men to speak up without fear of judgment and to provide mental health support in a safe, inclusive space.
- ANDYSMANCLUB holds free-to-attend talking groups for men across the UK and their goal is to challenge the stigmas around male mental health. You can click here to find your nearest group. https://andysmanclub.co.uk/club-information/clubs/
- Men’s Sheds Association is another club for men – they provide community spaces for men to connect, converse and create. You can find your nearest Men’s Shed here. https://menssheds.org.uk/find-a-shed/
Mental Health Check-Up
Below are questions you can ask yourself to check how your mental health is doing. You can make a note of your answers in a journal or notebook to keep track of your how you’re feeling. Try to answer the questions as honestly as you can.
- Am I getting enough quality sleep?
- Am I eating well?
- Have I been more worried than usual?
- Have I lost interest in any hobbies or activities I usually enjoy doing?
- Have I had any trouble concentrating?
- Have I felt overly tired?
- Have I felt happy or sad?
- Have I missed or avoided and social events?
- Have I thought about harming myself or suicide?
By asking yourself these questions on a regular basis, you can get a clearer picture of where your mental health is at. You might want to run through these checks once a week if you’ve been feeling particularly low or just once a month if you’ve been feeling a lot better.
Analysing Your Answers
Look at your answers and gauge if you feel better or worse than the last time you did a mental health MOT. If you’ve considered harming yourself or thought about committing suicide, please seek immediate help. There are telephone helplines like the Samaritans on 0800 11 11 where you can chat to people who can listen and offer support whenever you need it. The Samaritans is confidential and completely free and is open 24 hours a day, so you always have someone to talk to.
If you’ve hurt yourself or you think you’re about to hurt yourself, call 999 straight away.
If you’re noticing a general downward spiral or feel as if things are getting beyond your control, please reach out for help. Talk to a family member or friend and make an appointment with your doctor. You can take your check-up notes along with you to help you communicate the things that are bothering you or causing distress.
*Source: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/m/men-and-mental-health
