Men’s mental health has become an increasing problem in today’s society. With most suicide deaths coming from men, as well as ‘77% of men polled have suffered with common mental health symptoms like anxiety, stress, or depression.’
This problem begins from the common theory that men are strong and independent, and do not struggle with such problems, as it would be seen as a sign of weakness. However, in recent years the changing of world, the need for men to be more interdependent and growing concerns such as the current economic climate, and the housing situation in the UK. The financial problems have hit a lot of men very hard and lead to many suffering from mental illnesses, and even lead to suicides.
‘Environmental Stress, financial problems, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, major life changes, work problems, or any stressful situation may trigger depression in some men. Illness as well, depression can occur with other serious medical illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, or Parkinson's disease.’ This shows an obvious link between men’s mental health and the current economic climate, as well as problems with illness.
The ignorance towards men’s mental health is being considered more and more in recent years, with it being identified as a huge problem as the leading cause of death with men being suicide, however, the question is, is there being enough done to bring men’s mental health to attention, and is there enough solutions being resolved to help men, whether that be in the workplace, or at home?
When finances meet mental health, the relationship between income and wellbeing
A huge problem in recent years in the UK has become the finance of individuals. The current economic climate and hit much of the UK hard, coming from the increase in housing prices, as well as the cost-of-living crisis, mainly due to the increase in gas and electrical prices. These economic changes have hit some people harder than others, and the effects can only be imagined.
To increase cash funds, people have had to start new jobs, potentially move homes to be able to afford rent as well as pay for commodities, or potentially take out a loan, all in the effort to afford to live within the UK in the current recessional climate. As you can imagine, this will have a huge effect on mental health, as stress levels will be through the roof as people try to make their next payments on a house, or their next family food shop. As well as the stress of having to get another job to help finance their everyday life.
All of this will contribute to people’s mental health and effect each person a lot more than people think, as it builds up, especially with people that don’t have anyone to talk to about this sort of stuff. For example, men without a partner will struggle to tell their friends such struggles as they see themselves as week individuals and don’t want to talk to their friends about such problems.
How can large companies ensure their employee’s mental health is protected?
Large companies can protect their employee’s mental health through hiring trained professionals. People are increasingly waking up to the magnitude of this issue and its importance in the world of work. It’s especially critical that people feel they can bring the issue out into the open without fear. But we see that change is slow.
Just a quarter of workers said that they had seen any positive change in their workplace’s efforts over the past two years to show that mental health is important for everyone. This matters not only for the individuals who are struggling but also for the organization. When employers create a culture that supports mental health, workers are more than twice as likely to say they love their job. They are also more likely to plan to stay with their employer for at least the next year. Senior leaders can make significant inroads in changing this perception by starting the conversation, talking about their own experiences and the company’s desire to actively help.
In a study completed earlier in 2018, just 14% of respondents had heard a senior leader talking about the importance of mental health. Just one in 10 had heard a senior leader talk about being personally affected. However, is enough being done, especially for the men who have begun to come forward with their current mental health issues?