Messages that work for men

Opening up about men's health

Awareness and attitudes around men's health is improving — helped by a growing number of celebrities, sports stars and everyday heroes talking more openly about their own health and wellbeing.

When successful sportsmen such as cricketer Ben Stokes¹, and Olympic swimmer, Adam Peaty², announced they were taking time out of their schedules to protect their mental wellbeing, it challenges the myth that poor mental health is sign of weakness.

There's more to do

But there is still a long way to go, as Peaty pointed out on social media, “Reading some of the comments in response to this [Peaty's announcement that he was taking a break] is why we have such a stigma around mental wellbeing in sport.”³

And there is no denying that we face an ongoing crisis around men's mental health, in particular.

Suicide

The statistics are shocking:⁴

Men are three times more likely to take their own lives than women.
Men aged 40 to 49 have the highest suicide rates in the UK.
One in eight men has a mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder.
Men are far less likely to access therapy - only 36% of NHS referrals for talking therapies are made for men.

In 2019, the suicide rate in men was the highest recorded since 2000,⁵ and while the pandemic has not led to any increase in these deaths,⁶ the picture is still uncertain as there is evidence of rising mental distress, particularly among younger people.⁷

Trauma

And the pandemic has undoubtedly been traumatic, although trauma is a more subtle concept than we often realise. David Trickey a consultant psychologist and Co-Director of the UK Trauma Council explains that stress can turn into trauma when there is a disconnect in "meaning-making" and "the way you see yourself, the way you see the world, and the way you see other people" is overturned, by a stressful event — such as the pandemic. This disruption in our ability to make sense of events can spiral into trauma.⁸

For men, this sense of powerlessness associated with the pandemic might present additional challenges around gender-based perceptions and the need to be 'strong' and 'in control'.

These gender stereotypes also deter men from seeking help. There is still a misconception that poor mental health is 'incompatible' with traditional perceptions of masculinity, and that conditions such as depression, which impact emotional wellbeing, are intrinsically feminine.⁹

Action

"For a large organisation with large numbers of male employees on the road, we successfully encouraged more men to seek help using tailored stickers on their vehicle dashboards”, Lauren says.

Every workplace is unique, so carefully considering whether the message is right for the audience and how it's addressing their specific barriers can help.

1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:02,940 Let's talk about suicide prevention.

2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:10,080 Did you know that 75% of all suicides are men with 45 to 49 year olds

3 00:00:10,140 --> 00:00:11,870 being the most affected age group? ,

4 00:00:12,350 --> 00:00:16,160 Our research suggests that there are some common factors driving this,

5 00:00:16,190 --> 00:00:21,160 which can cause depression, anxiety and ultimately lead to suicidal thoughts.

6 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:26,200 Men are much more likely to cite money problems and career stress as

7 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,360 a cause of their suicidal thoughts.

8 00:00:28,660 --> 00:00:32,380 Deep down, many men still feel responsible for providing for their

9 00:00:32,380 --> 00:00:36,670 family and being unable to support them can cause feelings of shame.

10 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:41,470 Alcohol addiction and substance abuse are also very common factors

11 00:00:41,470 --> 00:00:45,519 for declining mental health with men more likely to talk about addiction

12 00:00:45,850 --> 00:00:47,920 as a driver for suicidal thoughts.

13 00:00:48,660 --> 00:00:51,240 For men, age is more than just a number.

14 00:00:51,540 --> 00:00:55,560 Many men get depressed by their deteriorating physical health as they age.

15 00:00:55,980 --> 00:01:00,690 And this sometimes gets less focused and is often dismissed as a midlife crisis.

16 00:01:01,350 --> 00:01:05,280 The breakdown of relationships can also contribute and it's no

17 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:10,620 coincidence that 45 to 49 is also the most common age for divorce.

18 00:01:11,054 --> 00:01:14,865 Men talk about seeking help, where conversations around depression and

19 00:01:14,865 --> 00:01:19,445 suicide are concerned, but far less men typically visit the doctor to

20 00:01:19,445 --> 00:01:21,155 discuss their thoughts and feelings.

21 00:01:21,479 --> 00:01:25,039 We offer a range of services that you can access remotely without the

22 00:01:25,039 --> 00:01:29,240 need to leave your home if you find visiting the GP a challenge, if

23 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:33,050 you or a loved one are struggling with depression and experiencing

24 00:01:33,050 --> 00:01:34,710 thoughts of a suicidal nature,

25 00:01:34,990 --> 00:01:35,899 don't go it alone.

26 00:01:36,320 --> 00:01:40,339 Our trained mental health advisors are here to help kickstart a conversation

27 00:01:40,369 --> 00:01:44,400 easily and discreetly and provide the help and guidance you need to

28 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,070 tackle any mental health issues.

29 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,070 Think Bupa whenever you have a health concern.

30 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,860 Whatever's on your mind, it's normal to us.

31 00:01:53,510 --> 00:01:57,470 If you feel that your mental health is in a crisis or that you just need

32 00:01:57,470 --> 00:02:02,180 advice and guidance, don't hesitate to explore the helpful organizations you

33 00:02:02,180 --> 00:02:04,610 can turn to for mental health support.