A healthy mind is an asset
Mental health is a condition of mental wellness that allows people to manage life's stresses, realise their potential, learn and work effectively, and give back to their communities. In the UK, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year. Mental health problems can have a wide range of causes. For many people, there is likely a complicated combination of factors. Different people may be more deeply affected by certain things than others. For example, unemployment, poor health conditions, bullying, bereavement, long-term stress, poverty and more. Mental health can affect anyone, no matter how old they are or if they are male or female. There are many different signs of mental health, such as depression, eating problems, loneliness, panic attacks, stress, trauma and more. Social media is a big factor in an increase in mental health, but social media also helps people dealing with mental health issues. For example, celebrities and influencers try to help out, such as Dr Alex George, who was on Love Island and is now a mental health ambassador, and Selena Gomez helps people out with mental health as well.
My experience with mental health
When growing up, I never experienced major mental health problems. I first experienced it during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. During this time, most people were lost with what to do as the government were not clear with what was going on, and at this time, it was close to my exams. In addition, my family and I caught COVID, so we were stuck at home for a month, which was really hard. My dad had it really bad as he had breathing problems and could not eat or walk. This made my family and I stressed as we did not know what would happen to him as this virus was new to doctors as well. Luckily everything was fine in the end. I felt useless and would not want to do anything. I could not eat, and I would always be down.
Men's mental health matters
Men do not talk about their mental health as much as women do, and their mental health is just as serious as women's mental health. The statistics suggest that it is very serious. For example, three times as many men as women die by suicide and men aged 40 to 49 have the highest suicide rates in the UK. Men are also much more likely than women to go missing, have rough sleep, develop an alcohol addiction, and use drugs regularly. Men do not talk about their mental health. Men are less likely than women to talk about or get assistance for their mental health issues, which is partly due to societal expectations and traditional gender roles. We are aware that women can suffer harm as a result of gender norms about how they should act or appear, for example. It is crucial to realise that stereotypes and expectations can harm men as well. Men are frequently expected to provide for their families and to be powerful, dominating, and in charge. These things may not be inherently bad, but they may make it more difficult for men to ask for assistance and to be vulnerable. According to some studies, men who find it difficult to express their emotions may also find it more difficult to recognise their own signs of mental health issues and are less likely to seek help. In 2017, nearly 6000 suicides were recorded in Great Britain. Of these, 75% were men. Suicide is the largest cause of death for men under 50.
In conclusion, mental health is very important for both men and women, and if anyone is dealing with it, they should get help. There are many ways to find help, such as talking to friends and family, talking to a teacher at school or calling helplines.
Comments