In coming up with the idea to change elements of my website and be clearer about how I specialise in therapy for men, a colleague sent me a link to a recent article about how GP's are often prescribing anti-depressents in the ongoing fight against mental health. I've attached the link to the bottom of the page for people to look at themselves.
I'm not suggesting at all that women aren't struggling to the same extent or are being let down as much by the health service, but the fact that men are 4 times as likely to take their own life is something that needs talking about more. Why aren't men willing to access support as readily as women?
It's almost impossible to know the exact reasons why. Maybe we haven't moved away from the gender stereotype that women are more in tune with their feelings and as such are more likely to seek help for their issues. If you've searched for a therapist recently, you'll have probably noticed that at least two thirds are female. Maybe we are still working our way past the assumption that asking for help is a sign of weakness and men can't be weak.
The answer isn't much easier either. Waiting lists for funded therapy are huge. Can be upto 18 months in some cases and that is a long wait when the struggles are piling up. I'm sure that people are getting jaded with the constant use of phrases such as 'the cost of living' but I can completely understand why paying for therapy privately, despite the much shorter waiting times and flexibility would be a non-starter.
What is clear to me however is that tablets aren't the answer, not long term and not as a one size fits all solution. In a society which is used to things on demand and instant digital gratification, I would always be advocating for men to engage in therapy and come to realise that the struggles they are facing are real and valid and deserve to be heard as much as anyone else.