Mental ill health affects all, it does not make choices. Engaging boys and men in taking steps to recognise and accept early intervention has got to be a focus moving forward if serious mental illness and tragic consequences are to be prevented.
To do this, we need to convey to boys and men that it’s no shame to admit to a mental health issue, just as they wouldn’t find it embarrassing to admit to having a physical health problem.
Why is this needed?
3/4
of suicides in the UK are by men. [1]
1 in 8
men* have a common mental health problem. [2]
36%
of referrals to talking therapies in the NHS are for men. [3]
*In a representative survey for England.
Resources to support boys’ and young men’s mental health
For boys and young men
For boys and young men
Power building tips for boys and young men
Self-esteem, or the way you see yourself, is a super power because it helps you to negotiate life’s challenges by identifying strengths in yourself and putting them into action, thereby building confidence.
Our power building tips give you ideas of things you can do to add to your self-esteem power kit to help build positive self-esteem to help you combat stereotypical ideas of what it means to be ‘a man’ and make changes in order to build positive mental health.
Download the Power building tips booklet here.
Starting the conversation: for boys and young men
Reaching out can make a world of difference, but it can be tricky knowing how or what to say.
We’ve put together some simple Conversation Starters to help you get started.
Manage low self-worth and body dissatisfaction with the Worth Warrior app
To hit a target of worth takes practice and courage. Believe you can do it, keep trying and you will get there.
Worth Warrior is a free app created for young people to manage negative body image, low self-worth, and related early-stage eating difficulties or disorders. It provides a range of helpful activities and information, based on the notion that eating and body-related issues can be helped through learning to challenge and change thoughts, emotions, behaviours and body image issues underlying low self-worth.
By identifying these underlying factors, and monitoring them over time, you can also start to identify what your triggers and maintaining factors are and work towards making positive change.
Download the free Worth Warrior app on the App Store and Google Play.
How to ask for help
If you’d like advice on how to ask for help if you’re concerned about a mental health problem, we’ve put together a handy guide which signposts you to support and provides tips on ways to develop positive mental health.
Read our Asking for Help booklet here.
For parents and carers
For parents and carers
Starting the conversation: for parents and carers
Statistics indicate that boys and young men are more likely to be affected by poor mental health but that these difficulties are often undetected. In addition, most mental ill health conditions that impact adult life, making men more vulnerable to depression, body image issues and suicide for example, start in early-mid adolescence.
Parents, carers, and educators are in a strong position to make a positive difference to the wellbeing of boys and young men terms of being able to provide the first line of support, start a conversation and seek effective intervention.
That’s why we’ve created a Starting the Conversation booklet to help you to feel prepared and confident to take that first step. The booklet includes top tips for parents/carers in handling boys’ and young men’s mental health, tips for boys / young men themselves, conversation starters for boys / young men, and conversation starters for parents/carers to get you started.
There are also tips on supporting a young person who has experienced trauma.
Download the Starting the Conversation booklet here.
Top tips for building your son’s self-esteem
As a parent/carer, there are steps you can take too to help build your son’s self-esteem, from being mindful of how you talk, to helping them find their strengths.
Read Dr. Nihara Krause’s 10 top tips for building your son’s self-esteem here.
Understanding Teen Minds, stem4’s mental health podcast
stem4’s mental health podcast, Understanding Teen Minds, aims to provide insight into the world of teenage mental health, looking at everything from signs and symptoms to early intervention.
Drawing on the extensive knowledge and experience of stem4 founder, Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr. Nihara, along with the evidence-based resources and apps provided by stem4, we hope our podcast will be a useful tool and support for health and education professionals, parents, and young people alike.
Listen to Understanding Teen Minds here.
General male mental health resources
General male mental health resources
Data sources
-
- Movember – Visit website
- McManus S, Bebbington P, Jenkins R, Brugha T. (eds.) (2016) Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014. Leeds: NHS Digital – View report
- The Mental Health Foundation – Visit website
