It’s good to talk. And over the last few years I’ve seen a wonderful renaissance of mental health advocacy encouraging men to do so. Whilst I recognise and applaud the importance of men and boys developing their emotional literacy, talking about their pain, and building relationships with fellow men, so too I believe that talking is just the first step of progress. The next step is everybody listening, and after that comes societal change. Men and boys have shown incredible bravery and willingness to get us here, and now it is time for our male mental health advocates, to do the talking themselves. So the mens mental heath advocates, it’s time to talk. Talk about all the things men have told you. Talk to your followers, talk to your colleagues, you political representatives, peers, industrial partners and fellow influencers. Talk about the abused men who have nowhere to go, or the unemployed who can’t find work. Talk about the vulnerable men falling through the cracks of social support, the forgotten men silently battling addiction and homelessness. Talk about fathers losing their children, and the men dying at work. Talk about the lack of male-friendly services. Talk about the overwhelming dereliction of empathy for men. Talk about media misandry, the loss of belonging and social isolation. Speak about the things you’ve heard men tell you. Because the problem is not in men’s head. You may think #malesuicide is a mental health crisis, but it is not. Male suicide is largely the outcome of a range of external issues, or personal stressors, that take many men down the path to suicide. Suicide is, in a cold way, a rational decision and a solution-based outcome based on men’s failure to fix these problems, the ones I have listed, and many more besides. So to the men’s mental health advocates, organisations and charities, respond to men’s trust and bravery, with bravery of your own – and talk. It’s time to talk. ~ Images Cat Han, Gradienta, Black Kiwi Hug, Jakob Owens, Dan Cristian Padure, Kiwi Hug. Illustration by Hey Rabbit and Przemyslawk. #mensmentalhealth #malesuicideawareness #mensmentalhealthawareness

2023-03-01