Hi, I'm Richard, Editor at JOE.
One of our big missions at JOE is to start conversations, and we've been encouraging men to talk more about their own mental health. And today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, we want to drive home that message.
I recently wrote about
why it's important to talk to your mates about mental health.
But sometimes you feel more comfortable talking to somebody who doesn't know you personally.
I can tell you from personal experience that speaking to
Samaritans when you are going through a mental health crisis can be incredibly helpful.
I remember the first time I dialled the number in my phone, too scared to press the "call" button because I was scared that once I'd called the Samaritans then that I was it, I was admitting defeat, I was admitting I couldn't cope, I was admitting I was weak.
I pressed the button, and what followed was one of the most helpful conversations I've ever had with anyone. I told a friend of mine about that fear of admitting weakness, and he set me straight, telling me it was an act of bravery to overcome the stigma and to chat to someone. It was, and I'm proud of that.
But that stigma is a problem.
It's as simple as this guys, those resources are there for us, many of them are built specifically for us, and if we need to use them, then we damn well need to use them.
Why? The stats are pretty clear...
- 12 men die by suicide in the UK each day
- 800,000 people die by suicide worldwide every year
- Men in the UK aged 20-49 are now more likely to die from suicide than any other cause of death
Pro Green has teamed up with CALM in the past to challenge the stigma around mental health
How do we change this?
First of all, every man needs to know about the resources that are there for us. Even if you've never suffered from depression or any mental illness, you need to familiarise yourself with these resources, because one day you might be able to benefit from them.
Samaritans: A free helpline for those in need, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Number: 116 123
Mind: A charity that can provide free counselling to those who need it, anyone can refer themselves to Mind, without having to be referred by their GP.
Number: 0300 123 3393
CALM: Campaign Against Living Miserably, a resource aimed at men with mental illness. Their helpline is open 5pm-midnight 365 days a year, and
their website is full of brilliant articles and videos.
Number: 0800 58 58 58
Papyrus: A charity with a mission to reduce the rate of suicide among young people in the UK. Call their HOPELine if you ever need advice or help.
Number: 0800 068 41 41
7 Cups of Tea: An online chat resource for anyone who wants to talk, but would prefer not to do it on the phone.
Website: 7Cups
The World Suicide Prevention Day website has a good list of resources for men around the world, if you are reading this from outside the UK.
What to do if you think you might have a mental illness?
Go and see your GP and tell them openly and honestly about everything you've been experiencing.
They will recommend you counselling, prescription drugs, or a combination of both, depending on what's best for you.
And, importantly, talk about it.
Connect, communicate, care.
