June 10-16 is Men’s Health Week and with it comes the sobering statistic that 80 per cent of suicides are by men. It’s true that awareness about men’s mental health and the stigma surrounding it is growing, but it’s also true that it takes a long time to spread that awareness and for its effect to be felt.
Figures are particularly high in traditionally male-dominated industries such as construction, goods haulage and farming, with workers from all these sectors reporting high levels of anxiety and poor mental health.
These industries continue to be associated with long hours and often very little or no interaction with colleagues, but that doesn’t mean that poor mental health is restricted to jobs like this. Poor mental health has the potential to affect anyone, no matter what their walk of life. That’s why it’s always important to check up with friends, especially if you haven’t heard from them for a while. The same goes for your colleagues too. “I’m good thanks” quite often doesn’t really mean that.
I offer walk and talk counselling in my local area to everyone, but a large number of my clients are men, who feel that talking side by side rather than face to face has been an effective way to help them open up. If you feel that now is a good time to talk, just get in contact with me to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation call.
Inside & Outside Counselling 