At any one time, it’s believed that one in eight men and one in five women have a common mental health problem, such as depression or anxiety. And statistics compiled by the Men’s Health Forum (February, 2022) reveal that 75% of deaths by suicide are men.

There are many reasons why men struggle with mental health, from work related stress, grief, relationship struggles, financial issues and starting a family. Postnatal depression doesn’t only affect new mothers – new dads can also find it a challenging time.

According to the National Childbirth Trust, 25% of new fathers experience mild depressive episodes and between 10-12% are diagnosed with depression in the first year of fatherhood.

Encouragingly, in the evolving landscape of mental health awareness, things are starting to shift and men are now more likely than ever to seek support for their mental health. For men today, seeking mental health counselling is a transformative step towards improving well-being. Breaking down stigmas and encouraging open conversations is more important than ever.

One of the most impactful avenues for men to address their mental health concerns is through talking therapy. This kind of therapy provides a safe space for men to express their thoughts and feelings without judgement.

Talking therapy has been shown to help with many of the key mental health issues experienced by men, including stress, anxiety, addiction and depression. The key is recognising that support is needed and seeking help before these problems escalate.

It is important to recognise signs that men are struggling and to seek support. For example, substance abuse, anger and irritability, working obsessively, sleep problems and reckless behaviour can all be signs that it would be helpful to speak to someone.

One of our male counsellors, who offers talking therapy to our clients as well as attending weekly sessions himself offers us valuable insight:

“As a man who grew up understanding that we were supposed to be strong physically and mentally, I knew that mental health was something that others suffered from, not me. Then I joined the military and was even more convinced of my own resilience. I was wrong. Circumstances beyond my control led to me seeking help in the form of medicine and talking therapy. I was so helped and changed by the counselling I received that eventually I trained to became a counsellor myself. There is strength in reaching out for help. There is wisdom in talking to a professional who can help you through your darkest hours. Whatever your circumstance, we are here to listen and to never judge.”

Talking to a professional is a really positive way to take back control. Talking with a counsellor can help establish healthier ways of thinking and devising coping mechanisms. The first step is to contact a local counselling provider.

Here at The Counselling Partnership, we’ve seen an increase in the number of men who regularly receiving with counselling with us, an increase from 22% in early 2023 to 29% by the end of that year.

While women are still more likely than men to seek support, 79% of men agree it’s more socially acceptable to discuss mental health than five years ago. And 68% of men say there’s less of a stigma around mental health compared to five years ago.

Technology is starting to play a pivotal role in making mental health resources more accessible and appealing to men. Online therapy platforms and mental health apps provide convenient avenues for men to engage in talking therapy; offering flexibility and privacy.

The Counselling Partnership is an independent, local charity. We are committed to improving mental well-being by providing professional, affordable one-to-one counselling to adults facing a variety of difficulties.

These include depression, bereavement, anger, stress, anxiety, abuse, loss, phobias, post-traumatic stress, relationships, self-esteem, trauma and work or career-related issues.

As more men embrace talking therapy, the act of seeking mental health support becomes normalised. And this shift in perspective is essential for eroding any remaining stigma surrounding men’s mental health. The more openly men discuss their mental well-being, the more likely others are to follow suit.

If you are in Surrey and would like to find out more about the process, please visit https://thecounsellingpartnership.org/clients/.