Today is the first day of Men’s Health Week. This week is celebrated internationally to highlight the importance of all men’s health, and to raise awareness of the importance of supporting every man’s health and wellbeing. This year, the theme for Men’s Health Week is “Building Healthy Environments for Men and Boys,” which aims to create physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy environments for men in the home, in the workplace, and out and about. In Australia, there are many men living with a mental health issue who haven’t been diagnosed. Unfortunately, for many men facing mental health issues, many will not talk about their mental health or seek professional help. According to the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, in 2007, only 27.5 per cent of males with a mental health issue sought professional help. For the men living with a mental health issue, it is important we show our support and understanding of their mental health, and how we can help them. Here are three common mental health issues a man may experience, and how to recognise those potential mental health concerns in helping them seek professional help.
Stress
Stress is a feeling of our body and mind being under pressure or overwhelmed, whether by work or life occurrences. Stress is often experienced in situations when we are not able to cope with something new, demands of something that’s been asked of us, not being able to deliver what was asked of us, or when there is little control over a situation. When the body and mind experience stress, this may cause a reaction of discomfort and distress that may lead down the road to other mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. Although many men commonly experience stress in their working life, stress can equally be triggered through various situations, such as finances, family, social circumstances, or sports. In small, manageable doses, stress can be a good thing in pushing us to achieve certain goals, however, significant issues can arise if stress becomes unmanageable or sustained. A few stress management techniques could be to talk it through with a friend, prioritise things that you enjoy such as hobbies or sports, to write down the stressful issues happening to create a clearer image in your mind of what is stressful and how you can handle it, or to have enough sleep to keep your body and mind fuelled with the energy to manage the stress.
Anxiety
The most common mental health issue for men in Australia is anxiety. According to Beyond Blue, 20.4 per cent of men in Australia experience an anxiety disorder over their lifetime. Anxiety is more than a feeling of extreme stress, it is a consistent state of extreme worry or fear of what is happening, and is typically out of proportion to the reality of what is happening. Anxiety is an ongoing issue, and it may happen without a particular trigger or cause. Typically, many people may tend to dismiss anxiety as being worried or nervous, however, it is a serious mental health condition that can be a crippling experience to a person if not diagnosed. A few indications a person may have anxiety are experiencing hypervigilance, restlessness, a lack of concentration, suffering from unwanted thoughts, feeling a sense of impending doom, or bodily weakness. If you are experiencing anxiety, several strategies to try to manage your anxiety are by slowing your breathing by counting each breathe to slow your heart rate, finding a quiet location to relax by tensing your muscles for three seconds and then quickly releasing to reduce muscle tension, or spending time doing activities you enjoy that improve your wellbeing.
Depression
We can all feel sad, moody, or blue from time to time. Depression is more than feeling simply sad, it is a mood disorder that is an intense, persistent feeling of sadness and loss that can last for a long time. According to Beyond Blue, 12.2% of men in Australia will experience depression throughout their lifetime. Depression is an ongoing issue, not a passing one. Men may experience depression for several reasons, including bereavement, job loss, work stress, family issues, drug and alcohol use, or from the condition being passed down genetically from a past family member. The symptoms of depression vary for each person, however, for many men, the symptoms may include avoiding family or social situations, finding it hard to keep up with work or life responsibilities, engaging in risk-taking behaviour, showing aggressiveness more often, or potential substance abuse. There’s no proven way to help men recover immediately from depression, however, there is a range of effective ways to help men on the gradual road to recovery from depression, including medication prescribed by a General Practitioner and seeking professional psychological therapy.
Every year, many men in Australia are suffering from a physical or mental illness, and are not seeking the medical and professional help they may need. It may be hard in knowing what to do if you’re potentially struggling with a mental health issue, but by seeking professional help, and taking it one day at a time in learning about your health concern and yourself, this will help begin the journey to recovery for a healthy life and positive wellbeing. For Men’s Health Week, it’s important to support the men in your life by encouraging them to attend regular medical appointments with their General Practitioner, helping them seek professional psychological help, or offering support by being there for them if they need it. This year, become involved in Men’s Health Week by talking to the men in your life about how their emotional, or physical well-being is, or joining an event near you to show your support for men.
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