Page 13 - MENTAL HEALTH: The Yorkshire Post Covid-19 2020 Help E-Mag

or far too many years, men’s mental health was, at best, swept under the carpet and, at worst, a source of mockery. You see, men just didn’t
show their feelings (at least not those kind of feelings): it was all stiff upper lip, ignore it and it’ll go away.
Except it didn’t. And such was the shocking effect of poor mental health among men that suicide became the single biggest killer of those under the age of 50 who, it was assumed, were in the prime of their life.
A toxic mixture of peer pressure and societal expectations plus, it has been argued, an inability among men to recognise the symptoms of something they were never expected to suffer, kept a tight lid on the issue.
Thankfully, times and attitudes have now changed – and it has been a remarkable change, especially given the few short years in which it has taken place. Now it’s no longer ‘soft’ for men to talk about mental health, to admit that things aren’t
as they should be and, crucially, to do something about it. As a result, the lives of thousands of them are so much better than would once have been the case.
One of the pioneers in transforming attitudes to men’s mental health was Leeds Rhinos and England rugby league star Stevie Ward, who spoke bravely and candidly about the effect a run of bad injuries, and the consequent time away from his teammates, training and playing, had on his state of mind.
He used his enforced lay-off to
establish an online magazine, Mantality
– www.mantalitymagazine.com – which encouraged others to open up. Now, each season, this toughest of sports devotes an entire weekend of fixtures each year to raising awareness of men’s mental health.
Other individuals followed, organisations responded and now there is a growing network of support for men with mental health issues. There’s CALM – the Campaign Against Living Miserably –
which offers advice and information, raises awareness and encourages people to get involved.
There’s also Andy’s Man Club, which started in Halifax (and was founded by another rugby league player, Luke Ambler, following his brother-in-law’s suicide) and which, since 2016, has expanded across the North and beyond. Now, more than 800 men meet at these clubs each week to talk candidly about their experiences and provide mutual support.
MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH
MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH: OUT IN THE OPEN AT LAST
“There’s nowt wrong with you!” Or, perhaps: “Snap out of it.” And, probably wForst of all: “Man up!”
The Men’s Health Forum is concerned with all aspects of men’s health but pays particular attention to mental health, given its disproportionate effect on early mortality. As well
as providing advice and information, it carries out research alongside universities, charities and health practitioners.
Information and helplines
CALM: 0800 585858
(5pm–midnight, seven days a week),
www.thecalmzone.net
Andy’s Man Club:
www.andysmanclub.co.uk Men’s Health Forum:
020 7922 7908 www.menshealthforum.co.uk