Societal expectations and perception that seeking help is a sign of weakness means men are 40 per cent more likely than women to hide a mental health problem for two years or longer, and this is having fatal consequences.

On a positive note, there is much more awareness around this gender split.  Organisations, charities, celebrities and the media are all doing more to shine a spotlight on this issue and help to destigmatise the subject.

In addition, technology is playing an increasingly vital role in helping individuals to take the first step to seeking help. More GP surgeries are now offering remote appointments over the phone or via video chat, which we know from our own experience at Caridon Foundation of working with men suffering mental health issues, this can be preferable. Sometimes people find it very hard to explain their feels and fears face-to-face, but over the phone can feel less intense.

In addition, people can access NHS talking therapies or psychological therapies via self-referral online. This eliminates the requirement of speaking to a GP at all and can be preferable for some men who do not feel comfortable asking for support due to the stigma associated with it. E-therapy can also be provided to help people start treatment from the comfort of their home.

More information on this can be found HERE

The NHS also provides a range of mental wellbeing audio guides for people who perhaps don’t feel ready to speak to someone but need some guidance on navigating feelings of anxiety or low mood. These can be found HERE

There has also been a reported rise in mental health app usage and searches during the pandemic. In the digital world we now live, accessing information support via an app can be ideal for those who wish to remain completely anonymous and explore what they are feeling further before speaking to a medical practitioner.

A list of Apps recommended by NHS to help people manage their emotions, negative thoughts, and urges to self-harm can be found HERE

The main point of these services is to help remove pressure and fear for those who recognise they need some support but don’t know where to go to get it or are afraid to speak out.

Don’t suffer in silence. Please take your first step to positive mental health today.

#CaridonCares #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

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More than 80% of Caridon Foundation referrals have complex mental health needs, so we have a profound understanding of the toll that the pandemic is having on individuals.  Loss of employment, financial despair, social isolation and the numerous other pressures that lockdown is causing, is triggering a mental health crisis.

But today, we want to speak specifically about the impact this is having on men, explore why men often suffer in silence and offer a reminder to everyone that you are NOT alone and help is at hand.

Are you incapable of getting to sleep a night, or perhaps you fall to sleep but are jolted awake in the early hours as all your darkest fears creep up on you? If you are a man, it is highly likely that you haven’t told a soul about your concerns. Not your wife, partner, family or friends, and you certainly haven’t sought any kind of professional help. In fact, you probably haven’t really admitted to yourself you have a mental health issue, but rather that whatever is worrying you is just something you have to fix?

According to research, three out of four suicides in Britain are men and it is possible that this is because men are 40 per cent more likely than women to hide a mental health problem for two years or longer.

The current situation has stripped everyone of their pressure-releasing activities, but women are far more likely to reach out to a friend and go for a walk, or chat endlessly through their problems over the phone. For men, their usual outlets such as going to the pub, chatting to a friend or colleague at work or taking part in a team sport, have all been stripped away.

Through the work we do at Caridon Foundation, we know the importance that physical wellbeing has on mental health, and is the key reason we started the Caridon Foundation Eagles, an adult mental health football team in Croydon. We have seen the deterioration of our tenants’ mental health since the start of this lockdown and people are being forced to weigh up the risks of getting Coronavirus with protecting their own mental health.

We are working hard to create an online community and activities which will keep people active, feeling connected and supported. But the message we want to instill in everyone is it is ok not to feel ok. More people than you could ever imagine are feeling exactly the same as you right now and help is available as soon as you ask for it.

It can be anonymous, it can be online, over the phone, or in some cases even face to face. Do NOT suffer in silence. If you are struggling or have any concerns at all, whether it is relationships, health worries, anxiety, financial stress, feeling isolated or helpless, and have had or are having suicidal thoughts, remember help is ALWAYS available – please talk to someone today.

If you need immediate help and are worried you can’t keep yourself safe, go to your nearest A&E department or call 999 if you can’t get to a hospital. If A&E isn’t an option, or you just want to talk to someone, here are some numbers:

Samaritans – Call 116 123
Email jo@samaritans.org

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men
Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day

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