It's OK to Talk: A Practical Guide to Mental Health for Men

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Give them time. You might feel anxious to hear their answers, but it helps if you let them take the time they need. And it occurred to me: maybe it would be helpful to spell out this unofficial stuff up front, on day 1. Maybe we just need to say what’s ok. To be explicit about the things that those of us who have been here a few years take for granted.

But figures show a staggering 78% of suicides in the UK are by men. Suicide is also the leading cause of death for men my age. In England and Wales, 24% of all deaths of men aged 20 - 34 are suicides. Otherwise healthy men, are being cut down in their prime. Yet not enough people are talking about it. Inclusion is about allowing people to be themselves at work, and embracing everyone’s differences. It’s not just about minorities, gender or sexual orientation – it’s about accepting and respecting everyone for who they are. And that includes mental health. When you phrase them as if you’re speaking to someone else, you might have an easier time believing them. This can really make a difference if you struggle with self-compassion and want to improve self-esteem.

Victims and survivors

We think it’s extra important to remember you’re always allowed to talk about what you’re feeling – even at work. It’s ok to not be ok Moser JS, et al. (2017). Third-person self-talk facilitates emotion regulation without engaging cognitive control: Converging evidence from ERP and fMRI. DOI:

Blaming yourself for unwanted outcomes or speaking to yourself harshly can affect your motivation and self-confidence, which won’t do you any favors. Being supportive, empathetic and respectful of each other can make a huge difference to how able we are to manage our mental health at work. Breathe… It's also difficult. It's difficult for those newcomers to know what to expect, and what's expected of them. How did I find myself at this point? How did I get that far along? Primarily, by not telling anybody that I was on the way there. If you slip up, try not to feel embarrassed. Even if you don’t notice it, most people do talk to themselves, at least occasionally.Across the world, the facts speak clearly: men aren’t going to the doctor soon enough. They’re not comfortable talking about their health and their feelings. They struggle in silence, or take action too late. There are over 150 groups across the UK including; London Euston, Barnet, Basildon, Chelmsford – just to name a few locally – Plus online sessions.

You just completed an impressive shopping list. Congratulating yourself on remembering everything you need for the next week or so, you get ready to head out to the store. But where did you leave the list? You wander through the house searching, muttering, “shopping list, shopping list.” We all find it hard to talk about our mental health at times. Whether it’s because we’re worried we’ll be judged, or it’s difficult to put into words, talking can be tough. David’s brilliance at condensing such complexities into four seemingly innocuous words made me re-think the true nature of creativity. Our dedicated equality and diversity team, our H&R Hub - and your colleagues - are all available to lend their support to you, confidentially and respectfully. Ben Ogden, from Harrogate, is a mental health awareness campaigner who has spent months standing in cities and towns across the UK holding signs encouraging people to talk about their mental health.There's no right or wrong way to talk about mental health. But these tips can help make sure you’re approaching the conversation in a helpful way. Ask questions and listen Ask open questions. These are questions that invite someone to say more than 'yes' or 'no', such as 'How have you been feeling?' or 'What happened next?'

Of course they get told all the official stuff - how they get paid, how to use the printer, who their line manager is. Instead of trying to puzzle something out yourself, consider chatting to a co-worker or classmate instead. Two heads are better than one, or so the saying goes. You might even make a new friend. Distract your mouth Taking regular breaks is really important for wellbeing. If you’re having a difficult moment, taking a step away from your current environment can help you to find some calm and perspective. And you might find things like breathing exercises, meditation or mindfulness can help your mental health and build resilience. Done is better than perfectIf you’re affected by any of the issues raised in this post, please know that you are not alone – it’s ok to ask for help. We were keen to spread the word about the network and our aims within GDS. We also wanted to find a way to promote positive wellbeing, provide comfort to people who might be having a bad moment at work, and encourage people to talk about mental health. Take them seriously. People who talk about suicide do sometimes act on their feelings — it's a common myth that they don't. It's best to assume that they are telling the truth about feeling suicidal. Ben found his mental health had worsened over the course of the Coronavirus pandemic but by speaking out he was able to move forward and improve his wellbeing. He was inspired to start his challenge on World Mental Health Day in October 2021 when he held a sign at Leeds station reading ‘My name is Ben and I get depressed sometimes #ItsOkayToTalk’. He has since amassed a huge following on TikTok, with millions of viewers watching his videos encouraging people in train stations to approach him and start conversations about wellbeing.