When was the last time you checked in on your male friends or colleagues to ask how they are?

STOP!!!

Before you scroll past. Just pause for a moment. When was the last time you checked in on your male friends or colleagues to ask how they are? This month, make time to give them a call or better still meet up at the pub or go for a walk.

THE FACTS - An official paper published on Men’s Health revealed -

• In the UK, a number of physical and mental health conditions disproportionately impact men.

• Men are more likely to experience poor health outcomes for a variety of conditions such a cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

• Three times as many men die by suicide than women, with the risk of suicide in men peaking between the ages of 45 and 54.

WHY AM I POSTING THIS NOW?

Apart from being Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, I got a message yesterday to tell me a friend had taken his life!

It was a complete shock! He was only forty. Fit, healthy, married with kids, loved his job and always appeared happy and chatty. You just never know what someone is going through and when they may need to talk or get help.

• One in eight men in England has a mental health problem such as anxiety, depression, panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

• However, men are less likely to go to the doctor than females, so it is likely this figure is a lot higher, with many cases of mental health issues in men going unreported and undiagnosed.

• We know suicide is the largest cause of death for men under the age of 50, with higher rates in some ethnic minority communities.

So call your friends, have a chat, ask the question and let’s make sure the people around us know that help is there whenever they need it!

WHERE TO GET HELP

• Speak to friends or colleagues that you know care about you and tell them how you are feeling. Talking things through will often help to give you a new perspective or break things down to make situations more manageable.

• Reach out to your GP if you feel down for an extended period of time.

• If you are feeling distressed or despairing and need immediate help, please:

• Contact the Samaritans on 116 123

• Contact the Connection service on 0800 652 0190  or via NHS 111 option 2

• The call handler will transfer you to Connection and you don't need to be referred.

• Use the support that is there to understand how to manage your mental health and what you can do when things get tough. The Mental Health Foundation can help.

If you are interested in setting up a Men’s Health network or group where you work, I’m more than happy to share some info, resources and guidance to support you ***NO CHARGE*** Lets put an end to this tragic loss of life.