Hey guys,

So this January, I am giving up alcohol for a month to raise awareness (and hopefully some money!) for male mental health. Male mental health is a problem not only close to my heart, but one that, after doing some research, I've realised is a horrendously under-reported health and social crisis.

Calm (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) published research only a few months ago showing that more than four in ten men have considered taking their own lives at some point; and of the 6,233 recorded suicides in 2013, 78% were male suicides (Office of National Statistics). The male suicide rate in the UK has "increased significantly" to 19 male deaths per 100,000; the highest since 2001, with a strong upward trend since 2007. This rate is over three times that of women, and suicide is now the single greatest cause of death of men ages under 45.

One of the real problems surrounding male mental health is the social stigma attached to it. Men, when they are hit by so-called catastrophic life events, do not seek help; either because they are unwilling, due to the idea that saying they need help makes them look "weak" or "less of a man", or actually unable, because the services are simply not there. The only way to really combat the growing trend is to break down this stigma, and get help to the people that desperately need it.

Modern technology provides an ideal way to help with these issues. There is a plethora of fantastic websites out there that give plenty of information and advice about male mental health and mental health in general - my favourite of which is MHF (https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/), which not only has some excellent FAQs on suicide and depression, but also has some great advice about a range of other male health problems. 

I've known too many people, too many friends who have suffered, the genuine least I can do is experience the comparatively minor inconvenience of swearing off alcohol for a month in order to raise awareness and money to do my bit and help. So if you are able, please give what you can! All proceeds go to Mind, who are doing some really great work to try and sort out some of the issues I've talked about here. It's my opinion that if everybody could just talk more about this issue, it will do wonders to break down the stigma and allow people to be more aware of what a real problem we're facing as a country.

Thanks in advance!

Adam

Some helpful links:

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/depression-faqs

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/suicide

http://www.samaritans.org/about-us/our-research/research-report-men-suicide-and-society