According to the World Health Organisation, one in four people will be affected by mental health problems or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. However, globally, men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women. In fact, of the 5,583 suicides registered in England and Wales in 2021, 74% were committed by men. And despite more people challenging the stigma in recent years and the growing opportunities for support, men are still experiencing shame and guilt that could make them less willing to ask for help.
To help combat the mental health epidemic, Purple House Clinic (PHC) recently started offering a new service to support men who are struggling with their mental health. Dr Ed Rainbow, one of PHC’s newly appointed associate clinician specialising in men’s mental health, will provide a safe environment for males to talk about their feelings and help regain control of their life. He gives three tips on how you can challenge the stereotypes surrounding men’s mental health.
“Men’s mental health is an unspoken problem affecting so many people up and down the country. We must break down those stereotypes and make it normal for men to ask for help, particularly with suicide being the single largest cause of death for men under the age of 50. This statistic shows the pressing need for mental health support for men and why it is so important to open up rather than turning to alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism,” comments Ed.
