Statistics show that even in a society where gender perspectives are constantly at the forefront of public discussion, there is still much to be done to help men come to terms with their mental health.
Approximately 40 per cent of men have never spoken to anyone about their mental health, despite 35 per cent of them thinking they’ve had a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life, according to research conducted by the Priory Group. Indeed, three quarters of deaths registered as suicide in England and Wales in 2019 were among men, a fact that has remained the same since the mid-1990s.
Patient-facing pharmacy team members are in one of the most impactful positions to notice a shift in any customers behaviours that could cause concern.
So, what are some of the most common mental health conditions currently affecting men in the UK and how can pharmacy help?
General mental health issues
According to the 2014 NHS Digital Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, common mental health problems such as anxiety or depression are lower among men than women. It is, however, widely thought that these figures are under-representative as problems typically manifest themselves differently between the two.
Due to this, mens’ symptoms can often go unrecognised and undiagnosed, and they do not receive appropriate treatment. Men have also recorded lower levels of life satisfaction and, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), have reported higher levels of anxiety since monitoring began in 2011. Subtle signs that men could display which indicate something is wrong include:
- Spending more time at work or immersed in hobbies as an escape
- Drinking more alcohol
- Irritability and outbursts of anger
- Violent or abusive behaviour
- Risk-taking behaviours
- Physical symptoms such as digestive problems.
- Men’s mental health can be affected by a variety of factors. Since the pandemic in particular, Mind have found that concerns about employment and finances have had a significant impact on people’s mental health, with 45 per cent of men saying that employment worries negatively affected them and 41 per cent claiming that their mental health was made worse by monetary concerns.
Physical appearance can also play a role. Mind’s 2019 Get if off your chest: Men’s mental health 10 years on study found that the percentage of men who are worried about their appearance has risen by five per cent since 2009, with the 18-24 demographic being most affected.
Men are less knowledgeable about mental health and hold far more negative attitudes, according to research conducted by Time to Change. Furthermore, they are also more likely to say that mental health problems are the result of a “lack of self-discipline and willpower”. Indeed, currently, men make up only 35 per cent of those accessing the NHS talking therapies service for those who suffer from mild to moderate mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
Reasons for this vary, but according to the Get it off your chest report, other factors include:
- Embarrassment – 28 per cent of men would be ashamed to admit they have a problem
- Fear – 10 per cent of men said they were afraid of being told they were mentally ill
- Lack of information – one of the top three reasons men cited as putting off finding help was not knowing where to start.
