On 23 May 2022, we sadly lost my big brother, Kyle, whilst I was studying the LPC and all I can say is grief is like no other experience I've faced before. In his memory, I am running the London Landmarks Half Marathon (eek silly me only searched after signing up "how far is a half marathon...!"). My aim is to raise money for Mind charity and to raise awareness about mental wellbeing and its relationship with harmful alcohol use.

Any donations are very much appreciated and your encouragement helps me get out on another run (...not something these little legs enjoy doing for fun)! Many of my friends know that I struggle to run 3-5k so 21k is definitely going to be hard. Kyle was very proud of me achieving my goal of becoming a lawyer so I hope I'll also make him proud by tackling this new challenge for such an important cause.

Kyle passed away at the young age of 35 due to health complications, which were a result of many years of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. There's a huge misunderstanding and stigma around those who rely on alcohol; often this is a sign of those suffering with mental health, particularly in men. Read more below.

Why don't men receive the diagnoses and care they need to heal from common male mental health disorders? Social norms around gender teach men that they should be emotionally strong and avoid showing vulnerability. I saw this all too often when I tried to approach the conversation with my big brother. This results in men downplaying their mental health symptoms, they don't acknowledge what they're going through, and are reluctant to seek help. 

Male mental health conditions often manifest in symptoms such as:

- aggression and violence

- high risk activities

- substance abuse

- physical issues, such as chronic headaches or stomachaches

- feelings or restlessness and difficulty focusing

- appetite and weight changes

- fatigue

Men are almost two times more likely to binge drink than women and have consistently higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations. Sadly problematic drinking is seen as socially acceptable for young men and it is less frequently recognised as a symptom of a male mental health condition.

So what can you do when speaking to men about their mental health?

- Let them know they do not look or act ok and prompt a longer conversation with open ended questions. Try to overcome the taboo of being vulnerable and talking about these issues together.

- Actively listen to them.

- Agree action with them and support them through this time.

- Also think about the language you use: replace 'alcoholic' and 'addict' with 'person with harmful alcoholic use' for example.

By overcoming the taboo in society, we could save so many people and improve many more lives if we break the stigma, encourage a culture which enables people to ask for help without shame, and enables people to treat such illnesses as they do a physical wound.

I lost my number one fan - don't lose yours. Sending love to those who are struggling. I hope this inspires people to talk more and get involved.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.