One of the main reasons I started Menshealth.ie was to offer another option for men struggling with their mental health.
It will come as no surprise to anyone reading this that men don’t really talk to other men about how they’re feeling. Or about their health in general. But mental health least of all. There is the perception that you’ll be dismissed as weak or slagged. God forbid men would actually try to help other men, or listen to them. Thankfully this rather bleak picture has changed in recent times and there is greater awareness and acceptance of mental health problems across society. But suicide remains the leading cause of death amongst young men.
And there’s another peak in suicides amongst older men. This can be stopped. It has to be stopped.
There are great services out there if you feel like you need help. But you need to reach out and ask for help. It is not giving up, it is not admitting defeat, it is not being weak to ask for help.
Mental health problems are diseases. If you have pain in your chest or are coughing up green rubbish, you would ask for help. If you’re struggling with your mental health, it is ok to ask for help.
If you feel low, down, anxious, angry, sad, tearful or just bad some or most of the time, that’s not right. It is not normal. You do not have to tough it out or put on a brave face. Please, please ask for help. Give us a call. Or contact any of these great services.
Pieta House: call 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444 – https://www.pieta.ie/
Samaritans: 116 123 – this phone line is open 24 hours a day https://www.samaritans.org/ireland/samaritans-ireland/
And your local emergency department has a psychiatrist on call 24/7 every day of the year – just show up and ask for help.
