Today, Tuesday 19 November, is International Men's Day which celebrates worldwide the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities.
A key focus of the day is on men's health and wellbeing.
In this blog, Dan Shedd, senior psychological wellbeing practitioner for our Talking Therapies service, talks about the importance of men's mental health and offers his own hints and tips to help you look after you mental wellbeing.
We know men are less likely to talk about their mental health and access talking therapies.
Embarrassment, lack of knowledge and negative attitudes like ‘just man up’ can stop men accessing therapy.
Our data shows that men make up only 33% of our referrals on average. Yet research shows more than 40% of men report feeling low or worried.
You can refer yourself to our service on the Sheffield Talking Therapies website, you don’t need a referral from your GP, but you may find it useful to talk to them first.
Or you can call 0114 2264380.
It can be hard to talk about how you’re feeling and I think often for men, not knowing how someone is going to respond, can stop you from opening up.
Beliefs that you may be seen to be weak or incapable reinforce a pressure to be the ‘strong one’.
But men struggle too! There might be times when you notice you are more distant, irritable, not wanting to spend time with family or friends and battling negative thought processes. Maybe you have been struggling to sleep as your mind is racing or you’ve been taking less care of your physical health.
These are all common signs when someone is struggling but the good news is there are things you can do to help.
I’m a strong believer in ‘practice what you preach’ so here are some ways I look after my own mental health:
If you’re reading this and thinking ‘that sounds like me’ then I’d really encourage you to take that next step in asking for help. We have a team of trained professionals in Sheffield Talking Therapies who would love to hear from you!
There are a range of talking therapies available including one-to-one, face-to-face and online courses. You can book an assessment within a couple of weeks to speak to one of team to find out more.
You can refer yourself to our service on the Sheffield Talking Therapies website, you don’t need a referral from your GP, but you may find it useful to talk to them first.
Or you can call 0114 2264380.
Dan has also recorded a video about the importance of men's mental health and some hints and tips to help improve it.
