Men's Health
Russ Kane
Founder
Men's Radio
The seismic shift here is that talking and being more open is seen less as a sign of weakness among men but more as simply being honest.
Men’s Health
New Year – New You! Hit the Gym in 2020!
These are the headlines that the media relentlessly bombard us with. It’s lazy, cliché-ridden journalism. What is missing from the exhortations to become ripped and ‘hench’ is any mention of improving one’s mental health. It is a glaring omission. Mental health is one of the biggest issues facing today’s society. The suicide statistics make frightening reading, with 80% being male compared to 20% female – a vast chasm of difference. It gets worse. Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK. A staggering and disturbing statistic. One of the root causes is that men simply don’t talk, preferring instead to ‘bottle it up’, with sometimes disastrous consequences. Women, in contrast, are far more comfortable discussing deep-rooted issues with their close friends.
So, what can be done in the new decade – optimistically-termed the Roaring Twenties? What progress do I envisage?
Firstly, men are being encouraged to communicate. Terms such as ‘man up’, ‘grow a pair’. ‘real men don’t cry’ will eventually be consigned to history as was ‘one for the road’. The seismic shift here is that talking and being more open is seen less as a sign of weakness among men but more as simply being honest.
Second, mental health in the workplace is a major change towards how employees are treated by management. There is a concerted effort to treat mental health with the same gravity as any other medical condition or health and safety issue. First aid kits and fire extinguishers exist in every office and factory. It will take time, but the mental well-being of employees will be taken as seriously.
Third, have a digital detox. Social media can be a wonderful communication tool, keeping you in touch with family and close friends. Equally, it can exert a deeply disturbing negative effect, as people strive to emulate the ‘perfect lives’ that they see on-line. Digital life is not real life. Don’t fall down the bottomless rabbit hole – real life is far too short and precious to waste.
Fourth, don’t ‘catastrophise’. Considerable research has demonstrated that 95% of the ‘disasters’ that you imagine will befall you as you lie awake at 4am will never, ever happen.
Finally, the motto by which I live – ‘Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff’. It’s just not worth it.
2020 marks a new decade of understanding, progress and help. It is out there – you just need to be open and look for it.
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Allen & Overy
Allen & Overy is a global law firm that helps the world’s leading businesses to grow, innovate and thrive. For almost a century, they have built a reputation for their commitment to think ahead and bring original solutions to their clients’ most complex legal and commercial challenges. Allen & Overy has expertise in banking & finance, M&A, litigation, funds, IP, and related business solutions.
Beyond
Beyond is a mental health charity which was formed in 2018 by award winning campaigner Jonny Benjamin MBE. It was created to address the growing need for mental health support for young people. 75% of mental health issues begin in adolescence and yet, according to the NHS, three-quarters of young people who experience mental illness are not receiving treatment. Beyond has so far given out various grants to organisations across the UK who support vulnerable youngsters. The charity is currently developing a nationwide mental health festival for schools called Now and Beyond which will take place in February 2021.
GlaxoSmithKline
GSK is a fully focused biopharma company. They prioritise innovation in vaccines andspecialty medicines, maximising the increasing opportunities to prevent and treat disease. At the heart of this is their R&D focus on the science of the immune system, human genetics and advanced technologies, and their world-leading capabilities in vaccines and medicines development. GSK is focusing on four therapeutic areas: infectious diseases, HIV, oncology, and immunology.
Haleon
Haleon Plc is a British multinational consumer healthcare company and the largest consumer healthcare business in the world. They are 100% focussed on everyday health with theirleading brands being built on science, innovation and human understanding. Haleion exists to deliver better everyday health with humanity.
Mental Health UK
Bringing together the heritage and 50 years’ experience of four charities across the country, Mental Health UK provides support and services for the biggest societal challenges posing a threat to our mental health - we won’t stop until everyone has the tools they need to live their best possible life.
Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a global marketing communications company. They work at the intersection of technology, society, policy and media, adding value to culture — to shape and re-shape it. They do it all – from creative concepting to content development and production, creative technology and user experience design. Their team develop and execute ideas that earn attention and drive business impact.
