There Is Support for Men Struggling with Mental Health Issues and it’s Okay to Talk
By Sujay (With his newly-grown Movember moustache - and beard!)
Statistically, men tend to fall into dangerous self-destructive behaviours rather than seek professional help for their mental health. They may avoid or delay seeking treatment because of concerns about being treated differently, or due to perceptions that having a mental health issue diminishes their masculinity.
Last year the male suicide rate in England was 17.1 per 100,000 compared to a female suicide rate of 5.6 per 100,000 with males aged 45 to 49 years showing the highest suicide rate (25.3 per 100.000) Office for National Statistics.
Many researchers have attempted to find explanations of why gender is such a significant indicator for suicide. A common explanation relies on the social constructions of masculinity and femininity. Male gender roles tend to emphasise greater levels of strength, independence, and risk-taking behaviour. Reinforcement of this gender role often prevents makes from seeking help for suicidal feelings and depression.
Over the past few years, many men's mental health support groups, including the Andy's Man Club, founded in 2016, have gathered momentum, offering places for men struggling with their mental health to meet other men and feel supported.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health emergency here are some useful contact numbers for Sheffield, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire to cut out and keep.
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Andy's Man Club (https://andysmanclub.co.uk) – A men's suicide prevention charity providing a peer-to-peer support network of free drop-in centres throughout the UK aimed at helping men open up about their mental health problems and reducing stigma.
For more info on the charity and all UK locations, the link is below:
https://search.app/y5NKFYwRgvXvNid79
Local Andy's Man Club: Three Sheffield locations:
Sheffield Central Fire Station, Eyre Street, Sheffield S1 3FG. What3words:///powder,gravel.older.
The Limes Community Centre, Lime Street, Beighton, Sheffield S20 1BL. What3words:///fire.vine.tides.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, Hillsborough Stadium, S6 1SW.What3words:///pack.shirt.twist. Mondays 7 pm to 9 pm.
Derbyshire location:
Chesterfield, Technique Stadium, 1866 Sheffield Road, Chesterfield S41 8NZ.What3words:///beast.woven.magma.
Other support:
Talk Club is a mental health initiative run by Sheffield Wednesday (Hillsborough Stadium on Mondays from 12 pm to 1.30 pm) and Sheffield United (Blades Family Hub, John Street, on Wednesdays from 6 pm to 8 pm) to provide opportunities for men to open up about their mental health and wellbeing. Just turn up.
Mentell (Derbyshire Voluntary Action) provides the opportunity for men aged 18+ to talk in a safe and confidential space, free from judgement. Contact info@dva.org.uk. Tel 01246 555908.
High Peak Crisis Support Drop-In Service is a friendly and supportive non-clinical drop-in service for adults experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress. Open every weekend, Fridays and Saturdays: 6 pm to 11 pm and Sundays: 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. No need to contact, just drop in whenever you need to. Located at Zink in the Market Place car park, Buxton SK7 6LJ.
Derbyshire NHS Mental Health Crisis Hotline 0800 028 0077.
Samaritans 116 123 24-hour telephone hotline. All calls are treated in confidence by a Samaritan who can listen to your problem and put you in touch with other organisations if required.
Text SHOUT to 85258 A 24-hour text support service for anyone struggling to cope.
CALM 0800 58 58 58 5 pm to 12 am. (Campaign Against Living Miserably, a suicide prevention charity on a mission to help people end their misery – not their lives.
Urgent and Crisis Service: Call 111 and then select the mental health option. A call handler with NHS mental health training will listen to your concerns and get you the support you need.
