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This week is Men’s Health Week, an annual event dedicated to raising awareness and promoting mental wellbeing among men.
This year’s campaign is highlighting how smartphones and laptops can pull you in and stress you out.
Having 24/7 access to websites might be beneficial to our health if we’re looking for information or to receive health services online but there are downsides.
There’s evidence that some addictions which particularly affect men, such as gambling or porn use, are made worse by constant access to the internet and smartphones.
In response, the charity Men’s Health Forum is encouraging men to take a screen break to improve their mental health.
There are two interactive manuals, the Man MOT for the Mind and the CAN DO manual which show that however good or bad you’re feeling, there things which you can do to improve mental wellbeing.
There is also a round-up of North Somerset-based organisations and groups aimed at men on our website, including friendship groups, sports clubs and charities.
Our culture is getting better at talking openly about mental health but we still have a way to go and many men feel ashamed about confessing to their own struggles.
It is a significant concern for men, with approximately one in eight men in the UK experiencing common mental health problems such as anxiety, stress, or depression.
The Mental Health Foundation has specific advice for men on its website.
There are also a number of Talk Clubs available in North Somerset, including in Clevedon, Nailsea, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare. Talk Club is a talking and listening club for men, offering talking groups, sports groups and therapy to help keep you mentally fit.