Men and common mental health conditions
Men can tend to put off getting any kind of support, because they may think they’re supposed to be tough, self-reliant, and able to manage pain and take charge of situations. This can make it hard for men to acknowledge they have any health issues, let alone any that affect their social and emotional wellbeing. But there is support available
Depression is a serious and common mental health condition that is unlikely to get better by itself. If you have a broken arm or a deep cut on your foot, you don’t expect that to heal without medical help. It’s the same with depression – it’s important to seek support.
Anxiety is one of the most common health conditions. For men, anxiety is even more common than depression – 1 in 5 men will experience anxiety at some point. Like depression, anxiety can be a serious condition, but it doesn’t need to control you.
Sport and Mental Health
Whether you’re kicking a ball, returning a volley, or even just cheering for your favourite team, involving yourself with sports can help you reap incredible benefits.
But it’s not just engaging in physical activity or playing sports that does the trick. Even watching sports and rooting for your favourite team can benefit you.
The natural community that forms around team sports creates a sense of belonging. People who identify as sports fans have higher levels of self-esteem, lower levels of loneliness and an increased likelihood of a sense of satisfaction with their lives than those who aren’t interested in sports.
And regardless of the outcome of the game, or whether their favourite team wins or loses, fans gain health benefits. For one, being a fan and experiencing their team’s defeats with their community helps people cope with losses. Watching sports also helps alleviate stress and creates commonalities among strangers, allowing one to improve social connections.
- Prevalence
- Symptoms: anxiety and depression
- Treatment for anxiety & depression
- Tips for men coping with anxiety and depression
- Supporting someone with anxiety and depression
If you feel you need urgent mental health support, please contact one of these 24/7 urgent mental health helplines – they’re available to anyone of any age
- Bolton, Manchester, Salford and Trafford 0800 953 0285 (freephone)
- Bury, Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale, Oldham, Stockport and Tameside & Glossop 0800 014 9995 (freephone)
- Wigan 0800 051 3253 (freephone)
If there’s an immediate risk of danger to life, you should ring 999