By Karen and Szeching
It is time to change!
Don’t cry; you are a man; you are supposed to protect your loved ones, not otherwise!
Does it sound familiar to you? How long since you last cared about yourself?
Have you realised that men can also have mental health illnesses?
According to the mental health foundation, three times as many men as women died by suicide; in 2017, nearly 6000 suicides were recorded in the UK, and of these, 75% were men; suicide is the largest cause of death for men under 50s. At any one time, it is believed that one in eight men has a common mental health problem, such as depression and anxiety. At the same time, men are more likely to suppress their sadness and emotion.
Men are more likely to seek well-being by drinking alcohol, smoking, taking drugs and abusive behaviour. Most of them realise it is harmful to do, but they are less likely to reach out for help. According to the mental health organisation, only 36% of referrals to the NHS talking therapies are for men.
In this modern world, everyone, no matter gender, age and ethnicity, are facing different kinds of stress and challenges. Some we can tackle easily, while some we need someone to offer a kind hand to help. However, men are less likely to reach out for help because since men were born, they were taught to be strong.
Under a patriarchal society, every man in the world has been taught by their father that crying and seeking help is a way to show weakness and cowardness and is useless. So every man tries their best to cover their emotional side, ignoring the fact that showing emotion is an instinct of every human. The patriarchal society encourages men to over-suppress themselves, increasing the suicide rates of men and also decreasing the chances for men to seek help.
Now it is time to change the generation.it’s time to understand that old sayings are not always right. It is crucial to have someone to look after you while you are lonely, anxious and depressed. Let me introduce you to a way to take care of yourself: Men Can. This is a support group that is organised by the Mojatu Foundation. This is an excellent opportunity for those who want to look out for themselves, share their stories, or seek help.
You don’t have to feel embarrassed; it is normal and essential for men to be happy, too; this support group is a way for you to feel connected, and you may find some friends that share the same experience with you. All men deserve equal opportunities to gain the proper treatment that women have. This session runs every fortnight, starting on the 11th of march, 2023.
For more information please see the flyer below.
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