Getting the moustache - Supporting Men’s mental health

Every year, November is marked and celebrated as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s also known as Movember, as men around the world grow moustaches to raise awareness of men’s health issues including prostate and testicular cancer, as well as men’s mental health and suicide prevention.

In the UK, 1 in 8 men report experiencing mental health problems they are less likely to access psychological support and therapies with only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies being for men.

With men less likely to access support, they can become more likely to experience mental health conditions that they often keep to themselves.

Jan, who grew up in the early 70s, is a volunteer for Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service (LMWS), providing support for people with mental health conditions.

Growing up in a time that he describes as one where many people wouldn’t speak up about their mental health struggles, Jan was confused about accessing the support he needed:

“It was only through accessing Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service that I felt  I would be able to do something about my mental health and to get the  support I needed to be able to deal with my mental health.

I felt that the person who supported me was able to deal with my problem and bring me out of the situation I was in.”

Through the support Jan received at Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service, he has been able to regain his capacity to be able to do something about his mental health and wellbeing.

“Out of that support, I can able volunteer and be of help to others,” he said.

You can get involved this November by taking part in one of the following:

• Growing a moustache for November to raise awareness.
• Walking, or running 60km across the month or picking a day out to support raising awareness for men's health issues.
• Encouraging men in your life to open up about their mental health and regularly checking on them. Educating yourselves on men’s health issues and motivating men to seek medical advice can have a monumental impact on raising awareness.

Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service also offer a wide range of support services to help.

Our free confidential talking therapies enable people in Leeds aged 17 or more registered with a Leeds GP to get support and treatment for common mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression.

We provide face-to-face, telephone, video and online typed - based therapy that helps people get the treatment they need at home, work or a place of convenience.

To get more information, email us at: leeds.mws@nhs.net or speak to us by phone: 0113 843 4388.