On today's episode of my podcast Men's Mental Health, I'll be interviewing a great colleague and an even greater friend on his views on men's mental health from both a personal and professional side.
We spoke about how mental health can be affected by the impact of coronavirus, the lockdown and isolation; how activities that we used to take for granted are no longer possible, such as playing sports or going to the gym, seeing friends and family and opportunities for social contact. The anxiety experienced by some around catching coronavirus or loved ones catching it. Stress caused by employment and financial issues, especially for those unable to work during the lock down periods.
We also talked about the reasons why men in particular may be reluctant to talk openly about issues with their mental health such as embarrassment or appearing weak or maybe feeling like they may be made fun of. Or people may feel reluctant to talk about mental health problems if they do not understand the issue themselves and are maybe confused as to why they experience certain feelings or emotions. In my opinion talking about mental health problems shows a strength of character and bravery. The first step towards making things better is acknowledging there is a problem and seeking support to manage it.
Finally, you asked me what my advice would be to anyone experiencing mental health problems and as I mentioned, the first step is acknowledging the problem and asking for help and/or support. There is no shame in acknowledging a mental health problem and there are services available to help, especially for those who may not have friends or family they can talk to. It is ok not to be ok, and opening up about mental health problems is just as important as seeking help for physical health problems. The first step can be the hardest, but is the first step towards hopefully making a positive difference.
https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/beatstress.uk
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/