November marks Men's mental health men, and here on International Men's day (19th November), we're here to let you know we're always on hand to help. 

TW: Suicide 

'Men Who Talk' report that every year, over 6,500 lives are lost to suicide in the UK, and 75% of them are men. With suicide being the biggest cause of death for men under 35, its important anyone struggling knows where to look and it's important that we help shift the narrative on mental health.

It starts with you, your friends and your family, by breaking down the culture of silence and talking to those in your circle. In all the busyness of university life, remember to reach out and check in.

Understanding the stigma.

Society expectations and stigmas play a role in why men are less likely to seek help or support for their mental health. Stereotypes see men to be the ones who are the providers for their families, ‘the breadwinners’, which can make it harder for men to reach out for help and open up. Phrases such as ‘man up’, ‘pull yourself together’ or ‘boys don’t cry’ has contributed to the misconception that mental ill health is seen as a weakness, rather than human behaviour.

A new survey revealed half (51%) the UK population believes there is still a great deal of shame associated with mental health conditions. While people believe that the level of stigma around mental illness has decreased over the last five years, over half (56%) of respondents experiencing mental ill health still feel ashamed.

Movember

Seeing more mustaches than usual? That's because people are ditching the razors and growing them in support of Men's Mental Health Month. Movember looks at mental health through a male lens, focusing on prevention, early intervention and health promotion. They’re working towards a world where men take action to be mentally well, and are supported by those around them.

How they're helping the fight

• Education
  • Helping men and boys to stay mentally healthy, build strong social connections and take action early when times are tough.
• Conversations that matter
  • Working toward a world where men and boys are comfortable having conversations about the big things in life.
• Services that work for men
  • They know the needs of men, and are working to make sure that services are designed with those needs in mind.
• Community first
  • Men need to be able to access support in their communities and where they’re comfortable. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
• Advocating for all men
  • They're forcing governments to understand the issues that men are facing, and  demanding action.

What were doing

At the Students' Union we have a duty to safeguard students, by offering support and creating an environment where students feel safe enough to reach out. There are many ways the Students' Union and the University are offering support.

Wellbeing services

Find out how to access support in the Support section of the Student Hub. or here at our External Services page

Students can also contact the wellbeing team by email- wellbeing@uclan.ac.ukor by phone - 01772 893020. 

Students also have access to a 24/7 support service that is run by a team of mental health professionals.

If you need urgent mental health support, please visit our help in an emergency or crisis page.

Communities

A thriving society is built on strong communities: people coming together and offering each other a sense of belonging, safety, and support. When communities falter, people feel isolated and unsupported, especially during life’s toughest moments. Communities and Society’s help with:

Reducing and combatting loneliness and giving you a sense of belonging . Visit our Communities or Societies pages.