Male Mental Health is IMPORTANT!

Why is it that men have to fit the stereotypical strong and unbreakable role?

Well this week I have thought a lot about male mental health and just how under spoken about it is. Facing the stigma and issues of a mental health problem is hard enough but we really struggle to understand why it is easier to accept that a female has this issue or that they can speak up about it but a male cannot. Nearly 4 in 5 suicides (78%) are by men and is the biggest cause of death for men under 35 also 12.5% of men in the UK are suffering from one of the common mental health disorders. (Men’s Health Forum, July 2014)

I recently heard on the radio that anorexia in men is not taken serious enough but why is that? Is it because men shouldn’t have such a weakness or is it that they have to fit the persona that is suited to their gender. The stigma that goes with male mental health is huge and also unnecessary.  

So after some research, we found out that 7.7% of children aged 5-10 years have a mental disorder but boys are twice as likely to get these disorders than girls. Yet, from an early age we have always experienced young boys being told to “get over it” or “man up” if they need help or are struggling with something. It might seem insignificant at the time but we are all entitled to support and to feel like we are valued in life and starting this negativity at an early age isn’t healthy

.

One of the things that men have said that they struggle with the most is the stigma. Its very hard for anyone to say that they are struggling and that they need help, but for men it is harder for them to speak out because it is not often talked about and is seen as something that as a male shouldn’t be happening. There is so much stigma to mental health as a whole but for men there seems to be that extra bit of added pressure. Opening up to your family and admitting that there is something wrong and that you are not the strong unbreakable male that you are “supposed” to be must be the worst feeling in the world which is why most men do not speak out and do not tell their families.

When I Googled information on Male mental health statistics I found a lot of sources that were quite literally all about depression and suicide. Now to me that's disgusting because depression is not the only mental health issue a male can have. Anxiety, Eating disorders, Schizophrenia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder etc. can all be male and female issues.

In today’s world we are so focused on males and females being different that we forget that we are all human. Everyone has their struggles but some need that extra bit of strength to defeat them.

Here to help;

STRIDE 

http://www.digm.org/

Greater Manchesters 10-20 year olds dance project, developed by the Dance Initiative Greater Manchester (DiGM). It is a free project that improves;

• Physical fitness and wellbeing- through regular dance sessions that challenge strength, cardiovascular health, agility and flexibility
• Mental health- through opportunities to develop creative ideas, for self expression, and engagement in a positive environment
• Confidence and self esteem- through challenging participants to step out of their comfort zone and supporting achievement through performance
• Life skills- through providing opportunities to value the importance of teamwork, goal setting, commitment and time management

MEN IN SHEDS 

http://menssheds.org.uk/

This place provides recreational activities for (mainly men go but women are welcome too!) which will help their physical and mental wellbeing. This opportunity is open for men over the age of 55 and quite often just provides a warm emotional atmosphere for individuals to just take their mind off their worries and make some great friends.

CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably)

http://thecalmzone.net/

This campaign is targeted at young men aged between 15-35 and offers help, information and advice via a free, anonymous and confidential phone line and web service.

MINDOUT

http://www.mindout.org.uk/

This is an advocacy, advice and information service for anyone in the LGBT community with Mental Health difficulties. It was founded in 1999 after issues relating to homophobic and heteronormative behaviour and attitudes in history from staff and service users.   

MEN GET ED’S TOO 

http://mengetedstoo.co.uk/

This is a peer support group in Brighton and Hove which was made available to men with eating and exercise disorders. The peer support group is for men of all ages, backgrounds and sexualities with the aim to “ease the isolation and secrecy they experience”.