"Men are less likely to talk about their mental health challenges due to the archaic societal view of men being the stronger gender. The notion that men should behave or look a certain way can be detrimental to their mental health. In my part of the world, men are not supposed to cry since this is perceived as a sign of weakness, making most men not able to speak openly about their emotions. Men are often expected to be the breadwinners and to be strong, dominant and in control. Although these aren’t intrinsically bad attributes, they can make it difficult for men to open up and reach out for help. Resorting to alcohol and drugs as a means dealing with issues of mental health is definitely not the best way to go, rather talking to family friends and seeking help makes a difference as the saying goes 'A problem shared is a problem half solved'. As we celebrate Men's Health Week, I will encourage every man out there to open up to someone and seek help when going through any kind of mental challenge, since no one is an exception to mental health." Anthony Owusu Acheampong, MSc Geographical Information Systems
"Many of us went into lockdown regretting what we had missed out on doing beforehand. It’s important not to dwell on what we haven’t done, but shift our focus onto what we can do, here and now." Frederic Bayer, Curriculum Administrator
"As someone who has been through periods of very bad mental health, I can say recovery is possible and things do get brighter. Be kind and take care of each other especially in difficult times." Sam Johnson, Psychology Student
"It can be easy to hide how you are feeling, presenting a cheerful façade to the world, because we fear judgement, criticism or worry about our career, all exacerbated by a toxic culture of “man up” and “boys don’t cry”. Talking can help. People care. Don't suffer in silence." Ian Robotham, Assistant Director, Applications Management
"The positive/negative symptoms of Mental Health aren’t as widely known or understood as those of Physical Health, but hopefully though successful information raising campaigns individuals will be in a better position to manage their wellbeing and seek support when necessary." Steven Sangster, Assistive Technology
We all have mental health, just as we have physical health, and we need to take care of it.Let’s encourage each other to talk about how we feel and seek support if we need it.
