For our third blog as part of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, we spoke to Ross Anderson, who features in our “I AM SOMEONE” campaign and is a very active mental health advocate.
Having experienced various mental health struggles from a young age, Ross accessed the services at Action Mental Health a couple of years ago, attending at our Lisburn location. Since then, his confidence and overall wellbeing have improved drastically and he’s gone from not being able to leave his house, to getting out and about, speaking about mental health and raising awareness of this and the support available.
When it comes to men’s mental health specifically, Ross said there were a lot of stereotypes and outdated narratives around what it meant to be a man and how men handled their emotions, which had a negative impact upon their wellbeing.
“Men have a lost identity,” he said. “That’s a really big crisis at the moment. What is a man’s identity and what does it actually mean to be a man? This younger generation doesn’t have the same opportunities or needs as their parents had, so they’re not really sure what it means to be a man today. They don’t really have those positive role models – for example, how to be a man without the ‘macho’ side of things. And gender is more fluid now, too, so social norms aren’t really a reality anymore.
“For the younger generation, it’s about understanding what is it to be a person and how to be a man and how to move forward with that. It’s got to be something that will change over time.”
Reflecting on the fact that “we have a particularly progressive youth,” Ross added that a key factor in helping to maintain good mental health in males was for men to let go of the stereotypical idea of masculinity.
“It’s just about being who you are,” he said. “My dad is a really good example of this. He knows when to be gentle and kind and how to take care of people. How to take care of those less fortunate than himself. My granda was the same.”
For the older generations of men in Northern Ireland, the deep-rooted stereotypes and traditional male role within society, however, are often very much ingrained. There is also the legacy of the Troubles to contend with, which further contributes to mental health problems. Indeed, in a review of mental health figures in Northern Ireland in 2021, the Office for Statistics Regulation stated: “The legacy of violence and socio-economic factors are frequently cited as key contributors to poor mental health in the Northern Ireland population.” [1]
Research generated from 1,000 men polled across the UK [2] shows that 40% have never spoken to anyone about their mental health – despite the fact that 77% of these men have experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.
The reasons given for not talking about their mental health or seeking help were due to the following:
Meanwhile, a report from Devine (2024) – Men’s Health in Numbers: Northern Ireland Men’s Health Report Card 2024 – revealed that 37% of men had long-term physical or mental conditions/illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more in 2022/23. [3] A further 19% of men were recorded as having low or medium levels of satisfaction with life, while 18% scored highly on the GHQ-12 scale, indicating a mental health problem. Of these men, 14% were aged between 35-44 years or were 65 years+, with 24% aged 45-54.
“Men in their 40s, 50s and 60s are in that traditional structured role, but in a less stable environment these days,” said Ross. “Because they’re already in that structure and lifestyle, it’s really hard for them, so they’re struggling because they have so many people relying on them. Then there’s the stigma. That’s where it can sometimes turn into drug and alcohol abuse.”
Indeed, 1,989 men were treated for problem alcohol or drug use in Northern Ireland in 2022/23, with 67% of those being treated in the country overall during that time males.
“It’s a very difficult thing and a very deep-rooted problem, which we need to look at,” said Ross. “With younger men, there’s a lack of education and awareness, with no positive counter message in relation to gender identity from the government or education. It’s really frustrating to see. Our wider culture is taking advantage of vulnerable young men.”
He added that men of all ages often didn’t know where to go to seek help for their mental health, which was another issue. Not recognising the signs of poor mental health “or realising they’re not just stressed but actually have some trauma that’s causing this,” was another factor to consider.
According to Devine (2024), the leading cause of death (69%) for 15-34 year-old males in Northern Ireland is “external causes of injury … (including accidents, suicide and intentional self-harm).” For men aged 35-54 years, this percentage is 23.7%, while for males aged 65 years+, mental and behavioural disorders are the cause of 8.4% of deaths.
It’s important to remember that behind each of these statistics is a real person with friends and family – and that their loss of life leaves behind devastation within communities. It’s therefore vital that men receive the support they need for their mental health and that they know how to access this and aren’t worried about seeking out that help.
Awareness days and initiatives like Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month in November, while perhaps overdone, can subsequently be helpful in promoting available support services and signposting men to the help they need, said Ross.
“As much as people can get a little bit lethargic with the amount of awareness days going on, they still do provide a good point of connection within communities and can introduce people to others with similar issues,” he said.
“It’s good because it kind of forces politicians and people out there to comment on it. It puts pressure on them to take action in that sense. So, I think it’s good in that regard. It opens up conversations in general and in the media, which is always good. “As a society, we’re kind of learning and progressing which, ultimately, has to be a good thing.”
If you’re struggling with your mental health, then it’s important to speak with someone – and help is out there, should you need it. If you’re in crisis, then talk to your GP, as they can diagnose conditions and outline possible treatment options. You can also contact the organisations below at any time.
Find information on local men’s mental health organisations at: https://findhelpni.com/find-help-near-me/Mens-Support
References:
[2] Priory: https://www.priorygroup.com/blog/40-of-men-wont-talk-to-anyone-about-their-mental-health
[3] Devine, P. (2024). Men’s Health in Numbers: Northern Ireland Men’s Health Report Card 2024. Dublin: Men’s Health Forum in Ireland. Available at: https://www.mhfi.org/MensHealthInNumbers3.pdf
