Exploring solutions for men suffering in silence with mental health issues
We’re now into Movember - the annual event involving the growing of moustaches to raise awareness of men's health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men's suicide. And it’s really that last one that we wanted to think about in this blog post.
It’s so sad to read that 1 in 8 men in the UK have experienced a mental health problem. So that’s around four people from your class at school or an average of two in your sports team. And 75% of suicides are men. Making suicide the single biggest killer of British men under 50.
Which would imply that there are a lot of men struggling out there in silence. The reasons for that could form the basis of a blog post of their own I’m sure. Indeed, Matt Haig makes some interesting points around some of the everyday and potentially unhelpful language we use in this article. Whatever the reason, men obviously feel disinclined to share their feelings. And we certainly know they’re disinclined to visit their doctor - with three quarters admitting they don’t even go when they are showing signs of physical illness so they’re even more unlikely to book an appointment with mental health worries.
So perhaps it’s worth a reminder that the GP isn’t the only starting point for a discussion about mental health. There are a range of therapies available privately, including:
Cognitive Hypnotherapy
Cognitive Hypnotherapy works by helping you to overcome blocks and barriers in life to help you become the best version of yourself. We all pick up baggage as we go through life, that’s only human but carrying that baggage around can weigh us down and also affect the way we react to and deal with new situations. Unconsciously we can find ourselves repeating the same patterns of behaviour and becoming frustrated by our own lack of progress. That heavy baggage can come in many forms, including:
Negative habits such as smoking or overeating
Unwanted compulsions
Anger
Depression
Unhelpful emotions
Phobias such as a fear of public speaking
Low self esteem
Lack of motivation
Cognitive Hypnotherapy is a relaxing treatment – it’s like rather like a state of deep relaxation. You are aware of what is going on around you as you are supported and guided to allow in changes in habits and beliefs.
Counselling
Psychotherapy provides a helping relationship where you can talk confidentially and without outside interruptions with a compassionate, empathic professional about the difficulties you’re experiencing. The aim is to help you to explore your inner life with the aim of bringing insight and relief to the motivations, conflicts and behaviours which cause emotional pain and relationship difficulty.
If you feel you’d like to find out more about these therapies or get some advice on which may be most appropriate for you then do please email or phone on 020 7733 9944 and we’d be delighted to assist.