Men's mental health: stories and support from the men in our volunteer community
When it comes to opening up about how they're feeling, men are up against a lot. Stigma driven by societal norms, gender expectations and traditional views of masculinity depicting men as strong, stoic and resilient all hold many men back from talking about the things that weigh them down.
Below, three men from the Shout Volunteer community share what they have done in the past - from opening up themselves, to how they react when a man, or anyone in their life let's them know that they're not coping.
How to ask a man in your life about his mental health
Chris, a Shout Volunteer, talks about his approach to checking in with the men in his life to ask if they're doing okay.
If you like Chris's answer, you can hear more from him in our 'How to help someone who is suicidal' webinar recording.
What to say when someone tells you they're not okay
Shout Volunteer and mental health campaigner Ben West explains what he would and wouldn't say to someone who tells him that they're not coping.
How it feels to let someone know that you're feeling down
If you’re struggling to cope, opening up about how you feel can be daunting, but you don’t have to face your problems alone.
Shout Volunteer Vinesh talks about the release you can feel when you open up about something that’s been weighing on your mind.
If you're going through a difficult time right now and don't feel that you have anyone you can speak to about it, know that the Shout service is here for you. Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 to speak to one of our trained volunteers. As it operates over text message, our service is completely silent, along with being free, anonymous and confidential.
