Togetherall Blog: Supporting Men and mental health, for Men's Health Week

Everyone at the University of Wolverhampton can access free online mental health support with Togetherall, any time, any day. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feel low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe, supportive environment.

Register with your @wlv.ac.uk email address

Supporting Men and Mental Health

To celebrate Men’s health week (14-20 June), Togetherall has shared some tips that may help you or the men in your life. While many problems in life are experienced by all genders, there are some particular difficulties for men, especially when it comes to mental health. The ‘man up’ mentality Talking about feelings and emotions may not come easy, especially for men who are often subjected to societies expectations to ‘man up’.

For some, breaking their silence and opening up about what they’re really experiencing is incredibly difficult. The idea that men must project a strong and silent exterior is an outdated and dangerous stereotype. True strength is demonstrated when you come forward and take steps to better your mental health. Mental health affects us all regardless of gender, so do not feel like being a man (or the pressures of what it means to be a ‘manly’) is a barrier to starting your journey to a healthier, happier you.

Learning how to ask for help

Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women: only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men. Factors such as societal expectations and traditional gender roles could play a part in men’s reluctance to discuss or seek help for their mental health problems. Therefore, it is important to have access to safe and supportive environments to share how you feel, such as Togetherall. Interactions within their community are anonymous, which means you can safely let your walls down without fear of stigma. The service is a judgement-free zone, meaning members can be completely honest and open. It also means their members can participate as much or as little as they like. It’s a completely safe space. Talking about your mental health can be difficult, but perhaps sharing in the Togetherall community could be the first step and help normalise seeking help. 1 in 2 people share something for the first time on Togetherall.

Building a healthy relationship with yourself

Low self-esteem can have an impact on every aspect of our lives – from our relationships to how we do our jobs. Understanding the thoughts and behaviours that perpetuate a sense of worthlessness is the first step towards building a positive relationship with ourselves. Men are often expected to be the breadwinners and to be strong, dominant and in control. While these aren’t inherently bad things, they can create unnecessary pressure and affect your sense of self-worth. One step towards cultivating a more positive relationship with yourself is understanding your identity. All of us have different identities; these identities fit into the different areas of our lives that we value. Being aware of what matters, knowing how you want to behave, treat yourself and others are good principles to base healthy self-esteem upon. However, remember that you are not only a ‘man’; you have an identity in many other aspects of your life – whether you are a parent, a son, a friend, a sibling or a husband. Noticing a sense of belonging (among all of these areas) can grow self-worth too.

We hope these tips can help you or the men in your life to get on track to better mental health; there’s no shame in asking for help.

Get support for your mental health

Find out more about Togetherall and other self-help resources available to you here.

If you would like free and confidential support from the University’s Mental Health and Wellbeing team, register here. If you are in crisis and need help now – you find details of emergency support services here.

Join us for Wolves Wellbeing Day on Wednesday, 14 July

Wolves Wellbeing Day is a day full of virtual events and activities to help you check in with your wellbeing, take a breather, and have some fun too! Taking place in MS Teams, you can join for one event, dip in and out, or stay with us the entire day - it's up to you! Everyone is welcome – staff and students.

Find out more