Two in five (41%) men in England, Scotland and Wales aged 20-59 do not seek support when they need to, because they prefer to solve their own problems. The survey also showed that men often don’t want to feel like a burden and don’t feel their problems will be understood.
The survey found that some of the main reasons why these men find life tough and struggle include debt or financial worries (36%), relationship breakdown or family problems (30%), loneliness or isolation (29%) and job loss or job-related problems (25%).
This information came form the Samaritans. This link is very useful https://www.samaritans.org/news/real-people-awareness-campaign-encourage-men-seek-help/
Why are men less likely to get help when they are ill
- Men have lower levels of health literacy than women with men twice as likely to have inadequate health literacy
- Men are less likely than women to use a general practice or visit a pharmacy - in persons aged 20-40 women attended a general practice twice as often
- Men are less likely than women to acknowledge illness or to seek help when sick. Health is often socially constructed as a feminine concern
How Men can Help Themselves
Everyone knows the importance of a healthy lifestyle. If you have a busy schedule, you may find it hard to make time for regular exercise or find yourself eating a lot of takeout and junk food. But you can’t afford to be passive about your health. Take a proactive approach by following these basic health tips for men.
- Visit your doctor - Schedule yearly checkups with your doctor and keep these appointments.
- Eat natural foods
Packaged and processed foods are often full of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, artificial additives, and calories. Limit the fake stuff and eat a wide variety of:
fresh fruits and vegetables
whole-grain products, such as brown rice and whole-grain breads
fiber-rich foods, such as beans and leafy greens
lean cuts of meat and poultry, such as skinless chicken breast and lean ground beef
fish, such as salmon
- Get moving
Heart disease is the leading cause of male death in the UK, with 119,000 men having a heart attack each year, compared to 69,000 women. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to prevent heart disease and keep your ticker strong. It can also help you improve and maintain your overall physical and mental well health.
- Maintain a healthy waist
If your waist measures more than 40 inches around, it could be cause for concern. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Trusted Source, it raises your risk of obesity-related diseases. For example, men with large waists are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
- Get your vitamins
Most people can get the vitamins and minerals needed for optimum health by eating a well-balanced diet.
- Break unhealthy habits
1. Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health. Secondhand smoke is also very dangerous.
2. Drink alcohol in moderation. Men should consume no more than two drinks per day, or the equivalent of 24 ounces of beer, 10 ounces of wine, or 3 ounces of spirits
3. Avoid recreational drugs. They’re linked to many health conditions. For example, cocaine use can cause heart attacks and strokes. Injected drugs of all sorts can lead to serious infections and skin breakdown at the injection sites.
4. Don’t use anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass. This can lead to serious health consequences. Possible outcomes include sterility, heart disease, skin disease, and behavioral problems.
- Protect your skin
- Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It’s one of the deadliest cancers. Men over the age of 50 are at a heightened risk of developing it. Your risk is also higher if you’re Caucasian.
- When you’re outside: spend time in the shade, cover your body with protective clothing,
- cover exposed skin in sunscreen, avoid tanning beds
- Get your prostate checked
- If you have trouble urinating, develop pain when you urinate, or notice blood in your urine, it may be a sign of prostate problems. Make an appointment with your doctor.
- To find out more about prostate cancer, this website has some good information https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information
- Check for colorectal cancer It’s important to begin screening for colorectal cancer starting around age 50. More information can be found on https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/bowel-cancer#heading-Three
What emotional support can I offer?
If someone lets you know that they are experiencing difficult thoughts and feelings, it's common to feel like you don’t know what to do or say – but you don't need any special training to show someone you care about them. Often just being there for someone and doing small things can be really valuable. For example:
- Listen. Simply giving someone space to talk, and listening to how they’re feeling, can be helpful in itself. If they're finding it difficult, let them know that you're there when they are ready.
- Offer reassurance. Seeking help can feel lonely, and sometimes scary. You can reassure someone by letting them know that they are not alone, and that you will be there to help.
- Stay calm. Even though it might be upsetting to hear that someone you care about is distressed, try to stay calm. This will help your friend or family member feel calmer too and show them that they can talk to you openly without upsetting you.
- Be patient. You might want to know more details about their thoughts and feelings or want them to get help immediately. But it’s important to let them set the pace for seeking support themselves.
- Try not to make assumptions. Your perspective might be useful to your friend or family member but try not to assume that you already know what may have caused their feelings, or what will help.
- Keep social contact. Part of the emotional support you offer could be to keep things as normal as possible. This could include involving your friend or family member in social events or chatting about other parts of your lives.
- What practical support can I offer?
- There are lots of practical things you can do to support someone who is ready to seek help. For example:
- Look for information that might be helpful. Help to write down lists of
- Help to organise paperwork,
- Go to appointments with them if they want you to
- Ask them if there are any specific practical tasks you could help with
For example,
offering them a lift somewhere
arranging childcare for them
taking over a chore or household task.
- Learn more about the problem they experience
What can I do if someone doesn't want my help?
If you feel that someone you care about is clearly struggling but can't or won't reach out for help, and won't accept any help you offer, it's understandable to feel frustrated, distressed and powerless. But it’s important to accept that they are an individual, and that there are always limits to what you can do to support another person.
https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health#prostate
