There’s now compelling evidence that men’s mental health in the UK has reached breaking point. According to recent statistics, half of men (50%) in the UK having suffered from their mental health at one time or another. Our mental health lead, Clare Blunt digs into the latest data.
According to the latest report from Bupa released in March, much more needs to be done within communities and workplaces to encourage open communication, raise awareness, and provide support for men’s health. Of course, it’s not exclusively men who experience difficulties with their mental health, and support should be extended to everyone in need – but it is worth noting that men are three times more likely to die by suicide than others, which is a clear indicator of their mental health struggles.
In response, the Bupa research called on employers, healthcare providers and society in general to come together to combat these challenges. There is no question that workplace pressures can be a contributing factor to struggles with mental wellbeing, and implementing workplace support from employers is essential to maintaining positive working environments.
Encouraging open conversations and improving access to professional support is vital to better men's mental health.
With over 30% of men admitting that they “don’t know where to go to find advice on their mental health issues”, having a strong structure in workplaces for help and guidance on this topic is more important than ever. While it can be difficult for businesses to know exactly how their employees are feeling at all times, they must be making an effort to check in and have support and services in place for those who might need it.
Conversations around men’s mental health are heavily stigmatised – particularly in a workplace setting. Bupa’s new study suggests that nearly half of men (49%) aged 25-44 want their employers to offer more support for men struggling with their mental health. Bupa’s contribution to the Government’s upcoming Mental Health Strategy will help steer a vital national conversation in the right direction.
Within this research, Lead Practitioner Dr James Stevenson, said:
“We must do more to encourage men to talk to others about what they’re going through and seek help when they require it.”
Having a positive work culture and tools to aid staff support within workplaces is vital for individuals to feel supported outside of their work duties.
At Venture Zero, we’ve seen first hand the many benefits of delivering programmes like Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in workplaces. All too frequently these kinds of initiatives can be dismissed or treated as tick box exercises. But there’s little doubt that they can make a difference in work environments where the majority of organisations will include employees that experience significant mental health difficulties at some point during their time in the workplace.
For many years now, I’ve worked with teams to give them the tools to help manage their wellbeing at work and home, as well as identify and support others around them who may be struggling. Putting this into practice helps tackle the stigma around mental health and allows us to foster more healthy working relationships.
For men, having confidential support can be particularly vital. With Bupa reporting that 43% of men aged 25-34 have hidden mental health issues from a partner, supporting transparent conversations and normalising speaking out about issues can encourage greater productivity at work.
Where men may not feel comfortable talking to loved ones about health concerns, providing safe environments for them to do so with an independent, friendly confidante can be a step forward in them opening up on issues in a space they feel comfortable doing so.
Generational divides cannot be a reason to avoid important conversations anymore.
Two-thirds (66%) of men over 55 say they still feel that there is a taboo attached to men’s mental health. It has been proven that younger people tend to feel more confident in understanding their health issues. So, although men are willing to help their children push through tough times, it is vital that they can still speak out about their own issues and struggles, too.
Often, in the workplace, people from different generations work side by side, so the importance of sustaining healthy relationships and openness between these people is vital.
It’s time to lift the stigma and tackle issues before they grow into bigger problems.
But the struggle to talk openly about mental health problems isn’t an issue that goes unrecognised by men themselves as the Bupa report suggests. In fact, 40% of men would like to be able to speak more openly about their problems, which clearly demonstrates that there’s a willingness to bring about change.
Although the stigma around the subject appears to be slowly shrinking in younger generations, discussions about important health issues are still seen as embarrassing or difficult for a lot of men. Not knowing where to seek help is often a common issue, so it is more vital than ever to provide services which promote open conversations - especially for men.
Want to ensure that your business is equipped to identify mental health issues in the workplace and provide meaningful support where necessary? Let’s talk
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