Introduction
Men struggling with mental health is a problem that if you notice should not be ignored. Men are much more likely to commit suicide, they are much more likely to not talk about the issues that they are facing, choosing rather to deal with it internally than seeking help. And societal expectations coupled with the rise of social media views means we are constantly bombarded with presentations of what we are meant to be as “men”.
Statistics:
78% of suicides are men. (3)
It is the biggest cause of death for men under the age of 35. (1)
12.5% are suffering from common mental health disorders. (1)
Men are less likely to seek psychological therapy as only 36% of referrals are men. (4)
Some societal statistics which show social attitudes and its expectations towards men which could heavily affect how men act towards their mental health:
Men are much more likely to become homeless as 88% of the homeless population in London is male. Men are much more likely to go to jail making up 95% of the population (5). If over the age of 24 men are much more likely to go missing. (2)
Advice
Information on mental health can become hard to decipher. Not for a lack information on the subject but the fact that there is so much conflicting information to process. People’s first action to solving a problem if they do not know how to deal with it in today’s era is to research it using the internet. However, the vast amount of information and how easily it is for individuals who have done no research and only go by their own experience means that it is very difficult to find consistent information online. However, there are definitive ways for you to improve your life that will not necessarily solve your problems but certainly help to deal with them.
Examples of activities that help maintain your mental health are:
Exercise: exercise helps keep not only your body in good physical health but your but also your mind in a healthy mental state. Studies have shown that exercising can help improve an individual’s self-esteem, help reduce the risk of depression and anxiety. (6)
Finding meaning: “he who has a why to live can bear any how” – Nietzsche (7). Having something that gives you a purpose in life can help deal with the challenges it throws at you. There are many things that can give you meaning in your life. For examples having goals and micro goals can help convince you to get up in the morning and prepare for the day. You can find meaning in a variety of things, family, friends, relationships, your job, your hobbies. Finding that thing that you are willing to suffer for allows you to deal with a lot of the difficult trials of life that it will throw as well as the mundanity of everyday life.
Social interaction: Human’s are social animals. we need to have contact with others to have a healthy attitude towards life. Perhaps you have had a bad experience’s with dealing with other people during your life and thus have decided that people are not worth your time. Perhaps your also introverted and you find dealing with people exhausting. If this is the case with you then just aimlessly trying to make new friends for the sake of it is going to be difficult and likely fruitless. However, if you make sure to get out and focus on something you have passion for you may find that passion will interest people especially if you become talented in that passion. This will help you to grow more comfortable with people and allow you to meet acquaintances and eventually friends.
Decluttering: Waking up to a stuffy messy room does not help get yourself into a good mental state to face the day. Studies have shown that cleaning your room can help keep your mind in order. As well as decluttering your room, making your bed in the morning is a good habit to get in to as making the decision to do something that seems tedious early in the morning can help improve your attitude towards other general tasks of the day. This implemented constantly can eventually snowball and lead to a more productive and efficient attitude.
Sources
(1)Men’s mental health: a silent crisis <https://www.safeline.org.uk/mens-mental-health-a-silent-crisis/#:~:text=%20Men%E2%80%99s%20mental%20health%3A%20a%20silent%20crisis%20,only%2036%25%20of%20referrals%20being%20men%2C...%20More> [accessed 20 February 2021].
(2)Men’s mind matters () <https://www.mensmindsmatter.org/men-and-homelessness.html> [accessed 20 February 2021].
(3)counselling directory () <https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/men-and-mental-health-stats.html#menandmentalhealth> [accessed 20 February 2021].
(4)Mental health statistics: men and women () <https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-men-and-women> [accessed 20 February 2021].
(5)prison: the facts () <http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Bromley%20Briefings/Prison%20the%20facts%20Summer%202019.pdf> [accessed 20 February 2021].
(6)Physical activity and your mental health () <https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/physical-activity-and-your-mental-health/about-physical-activity/> [accessed 20 February 2021].
(7)Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of the idol, trans. by Richard Polt (1888).
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