It's Movember - let's talk about men's mental health

Why is it so important to raise awareness for men specifically? In the UK, one in eight men suffer from a common mental health problem such as anxiety, depression, panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. They are less likely to access psychological therapies than women and they are far more likely to go missing, sleep rough or become dependant on alcohol and drugs. Let's talk about why this is, what to do when you are feeling depressed and how to help others.

Society expects men to be strong, dominant and in control. These aren't bad things, but it might be the reason men are less likely to open up, show their emotions and reach out for support. Research shows that men might struggle to recognise depression within themselves and therefore might not ask for help. So.. how can you recognise depression?

First of all, it's very important to point out that depression is not a sign of weakness - anyone can suffer from it. It can be very lonely when keeping it to yourself, so we would encourage you to reach out to your GP and/or friends and family. A few symptoms could be fatigue, feeling low, loss of appetite, feeling guilty or having thoughts of self-harm and suicide. It can be different for everyone at different levels so try not to compare yourself to how someone else is feeling. Depression is not something that will go away overnight so don't be hard on yourself and take all the time you might need.

If you think someone close to you might be depressed, there are a few things you can do. It can be as simple as letting them know you're there for them if they need to talk or sending them a text message to show them you care - this can make a difference already. Be sure to take care of your own mental health as it can be tough looking after someone else's. People will often feel a great sense of guilt after losing someone to suicide. You could try to find a support group to talk about your trauma with others who have had a similar experience.

Let's normalise men taking care of their skin

We can all make a change by permanently eliminating toxic phrases like "man up" and "boys don't cry". Just like showing their emotions, it should be totally normal for men to care about their skincare or wardrobe. Just like women, men deserve to take care of their mental and physical health without being judged. We trust and hope that this is slowly changing and we wanted to tell you all to just BE YOU, you are enough!

As a gender neutral brand, it is important to us that everyone feels like they can use our skincare products - regardless of how they identify themselves. We want you to feel empowered while having healthy, hydrated skin. Take a look at our products and let’s make a change together. 

Written by Oísin Zandee