The single biggest cause of death among young men in Britain is suicide. Not road accidents or something unavoidable, but something which can be prevented with the right help and support.
Men are more than three times as likely to take their lives than women. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a charity which aims to prevent male suicide, argues that this is because social expectations are a barrier to men seeking help as they are expected to be ‘strong’.
People take their own lives for all kinds of reasons. Whether this is due to severe depression, anxiety, other mental health issues, or problems in your life.
Mental health issues affect anyone and everyone. It is really important that we all learn to talk about our feelings, and feel that we CAN ask for help and support.
It’s no secret that men don’t like to talk about their feelings, and many young men might feel that they just have to ‘pull themselves together’ and ‘get on with it’. But if you have a mental health problem, this can feel impossible.
There is no shame in asking for help or talking about how you feel, and it doesn’t make you weak – Talking saves lives.
Rapper Professor Green recently made a video with BBC Lifeline, talking all about CALM and his own experience of losing his dad to mental illness.
As patron for CALM, Professor Green said:
“We need to get the message out to young men that talking and asking for help when things go bad is what everyone should be able to do, whatever their gender.”
Getting help and support
There are many different ways you can talk to someone and get help if you need to.
You can talk to:
- If you are in a crisis call NHS Mental Health Crisis Support Line, call 111 and select the mental health option (24/7 help for anyone of any age)
- CALM who offer a helpline and a webchat, and can also refer you for face-to-face support.
- Talk to ChildLine on 0800 1111 if you’re under 18.
- If you’re over 18, call the Samaritans on 116 123.
- Get online support and free counselling from Kooth.
To view all emotional wellbeing and mental health support services in Suffolk, go to our ‘Ease My Mind’ emotional wellbeing directory.
See our advice page ‘Feeling overwhelmed and suicidal‘.
Watch the video below titled ‘Professor Green’s Lifeline Appeal for the Campaign Against Living Miserable’, to see Professor Green talk about mental health and what we can do to help each other.
