For a lot of men, even in these days of acceptance, discussing mental health and wellbeing is hard.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 8 men suffer from some sort of mental health condition, which encompasses everything from stress and panic attacks to depression and eating disorders.
It goes on to paint an even bleaker picture if the stats below are anything to go by:
- Three times as many men as women die by suicide.
- Men aged 40-49 have the highest suicide rates in the UK.
- According to the Government’s national wellbeing survey, men report lower levels of life satisfaction than women
- Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women: only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men.
So it’s clear from the evidence that men, generally speaking, find it difficult to accept they’re struggling but, more importantly, they’re struggling to reach out and access help. One of the biggest reasons is feeling embarrassed.
Well, here at Laughology, we know that communication is vital in order to get the support you need. So this quick-fire, interactive, 30-minute session, led by Lead Happiness Consultant Dave Keeling, will look at and explore:
- Some facts and myths surrounding mental health
- The mental health continuum – a guide to spotting where people are in regard to their mental state/wellbeing, and what to look out for
- Tips on how to start having more open and honest discussions - e.g. instead of asking how someone is, ask them how they feel from 1- 5 - you’re more likely to get an honest answer
- Statistics that highlight why talking about men’s mental health is so important - e.g. did you know 2 in 3 men in the UK said they felt so stressed at some point over the last year, they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope)
- The 4 S’s - Spot, Stop, Support and Signpost – a structure for helping those around you who may beslipping from thriving to struggling.
So join us on 3rd February for illumination, explanation and (most importantly) conversation. Everyone’s welcome!
Cost: Free
Seats: 500
Facilitator: Dave Keeling
