Would you know how to start a conversation about men’s mental health?
We take mental health very seriously at FitzRoy and we know that it’s OK not to be OK, yet too often there’s still a stigma around talking about your mental health, especially among men. Since November is Men’s Health Awareness Month, we caught up with some of our staff to get their thoughts on starting conversations around men’s mental health.
Kim Knights, mental health lead at FitzRoy, said: “Research from Mind in 2019 showed that men were three times more likely to see a therapist if they’re struggling than they were ten years ago, which is positive. Talking about our mental health should be just as normal as talking about our physical health. If you’re struggling but not quite ready to talk to your friends, family, or someone at work, there are lots of great organisations out there who can help you, such as Mind, Samaritans, or ANDYSMANCLUB.”
If you’re concerned about someone but not sure what to do, Movember have come up with a great way to remember – ALEC stands for Ask, Listen, Encourage action, and Check in. You can even practice conversations first using their Movember Conversations tool.
Paul Williamson is deputy manager of our Meadow Court and Clover Court services in Nottingham and said: “It’s incredibly important to talk about our mental health – we’re all human and being able to talk about things in a safe space can have such a positive impact. Men can find it harder to open up about their mental wellbeing than women, but if you’re struggling, please reach out to someone you know and trust sooner rather than later – your mental health can deteriorate quickly without support. If you’re concerned about someone else, you don’t need to be an expert to start conversations about mental health – just saying something like, ‘hey, I’ve noticed you don’t seem yourself lately – how are you doing at the moment?’ can really help.”
Callum McDonald, deputy manager of our Bolero Court service in Nottingham, added: “There’s been so much conditioning that men shouldn’t open up about their feelings, but I always say to my staff, people we support, and my friends, ‘it’s OK to be vulnerable’. As a man, it takes a lot of bravery to come forward and say you’re struggling, but it really is OK not to be OK. You know when your friends are struggling and I think one of the most important things you can say is, ‘When you need me, I’ll be here for you’. When, not if. It might take a week, it might take six months, but they won’t forget and just knowing that you’ll be there when they need to talk makes a big difference. Don’t badger people though if they’re not ready to talk now. Sometimes just sitting with someone in silence is the best support you can give them at that point. And never underestimate the power of fresh air and exercise for supporting mental wellbeing!”
Gill Pleasance, FitzRoy’s director of HR, said: “By raising awareness this month, we hope our male colleagues feel empowered to put their mental and physical health first, seek support when they need it, and access the resources available to them. At FitzRoy we have a network of Mental Health First Aiders and Wellbeing Champions who are always here to help our staff, and we all have access to a confidential 24/7 helpline.”
Other resources:
- Mates in Mind offer a text support service
- Campaign Against Living Miserably is a national suicide prevention charity
- “It’s Stress Awareness Month – how’s your Stress Bucket looking?”