This week’s editorial mentions suicide and substance abuse. Please take care when reading.

This Wednesday marked the first of November. This also meant it was the first day of Movember, a campaign involving growing moustaches to raise awareness of men’s health issues – prostate and testicular cancer and men’s mental health. 2023 marks its 20th year of running. In this editorial, our focus will be on men’s mental health and although Mental Health Awareness Month was in May, the conversation should always be open.

Men’s mental health has become an increasingly more open discussion which is a promising change. Many statistics may not be surprising but 3 times as many men die by suicide compared to women and men are less likely to access therapy, only taking up 36% of referrals to the NHS. A big part of these statistics is society’s expectations and traditional gender roles. Men are expected to be strong and in control, not bad things but often create a mindset which means they struggle to reach out and ask for help. Instead, they are more likely to “cope” through substances.

Another thing that may play a big factor is the generational differences in the perception of mental health. There has been a massive positive change within the world of understanding and care of mental health. This comes down to the shift in society’s attitudes. We are becoming more accepting and supportive of mental health issues; we are more aware of common illnesses and are more likely to discuss and share our experiences. Consequently, leads to more people being willing to talk to health professionals and seek treatment as there is a reduced level of shame.

“it is not necessary to be strong all the time”

It could be argued that this is mainly seen in the younger generations. Social media has played a massive part in opening up the discussion about well-being and mental health. In the past, it was more common that someone “wouldn’t talk about it” but now people are more likely to talk about how they are feeling. Terminology has also changed, a “shrink” is now a “therapist”, a less harsh term. However, the terminology also differs for age groups: a young person may be suffering from depression whilst an older person may be lonely or isolated. Why don’t we use the same names for older generations? Is there still a perception that mental health is taboo and not a common thing?

This is especially important when considering the statistics of older men. 29% of men aged 45 to 54 said they wouldn’t think that feeling worried or low was important enough to act on. This age range has the highest rate of suicide in all of the UK. The second most likely thing that would stop them from seeking help is embarrassment. This can be seen in the 60% that said they wouldn’t reach out to family and the 80% that said they would not seek therapy. We have, in the past, discussed the Midlife Crisis which can play a huge part in deteriorating mental health. The Crisis is often used in a humorous context but in reality, it can be damaging, what more can be done to bring to light the real struggles?

It is important to note that different industries have different risk factors and suicide rates. For example, in the agricultural industry, farmers have very high rates of suicide compared to other industries. Due to having to work alone, unstable incomes and a generally poor work-life balance due to the long hours. A 2018 survey found that the farmers questioned had an average number of 65 hours compared to the national average of 37. 68% stated that they did not get enough sleep. More recent studies have found that out of 15,000 respondents, only 12% of male farmers reported having good mental well-being. In the next part of this editorial, we will be discussing the ways that employers can make the workplace more accepting and accommodating by opening up discussions on mental health among male workers. However, for industries like agriculture, where you’re alone or other self-employed workers, how can we ensure that they are also getting the support they need and are reaching out? Are there any policies that can be put in place?

46% of men said they would be embarrassed to tell their employer that they were struggling with their mental health. So, what can employers do? Similar to menopause, open up discussions. Make the topic of mental health comfortable and encourage people to seek support or talk to someone. It does not necessarily need to be their manager as talking to someone above you may be nerve-wracking – a discussion among peers and allowing for a more open workforce can be a good first step. Furthermore, it could help to take the first step, if a manager or employer opens up and shows that it is okay and it is “masculine” to not always be 100% then it is likely other people will open up too. Running workshops to inform employees of the risks and the benefits of seeking help. Whilst the issues surrounding men’s mental health are vaguely known about by many people, the figures themselves paint a vivid picture. Helping employees by telling them where they can find support, both professional or healthier coping mechanisms which aren’t substances can be a massive help. Having employees training in mental health can also help provide further support by having people who understand the correct procedures.

To conclude, it is not necessary to be strong all the time and it is completely okay if your mental health is struggling. That does not make you weak and reaching out is important. Whilst there has been a shift to more acceptance of men’s mental health, there is still a problem. One way in which something can be done is through the workplace. Making work a place where employees can be open about their emotions and not feel like they need to put up a strong front could be one of the first steps to improving mental health. What else can be done to raise awareness of men’s mental health? How can the workplace be adapted to make it more open and accessible to those struggling?

If you’re concerned about your mental health, making small changes like keeping active and eating well can help put you in a better physical position which can lead to improved mental condition. If you are seriously concerned, talking to your GP and getting help is the first step and can make a huge difference. If you need immediate help, please call 999 or the nearest crisis resolution team.

Contact these organisations if you need support or want to learn more about men’s mental health: CALM, Samaritans, Men’s Health Forum, Mind.

Sonya Knight | ADF Comms Team

Read our previous editorial here

To respond and/or for more information, please contact the ADF Comms Team at: [email protected]