In the UK men account for around 75% of suicide fatalities on average; in England, men aged 45-49 have the highest suicide rate at 25.3 per 100 000 (Office for National Statistics (ONS), 2024; Samaritans, 2024). Only 36% of all NHS referrals for psychological therapies are for men (Mental Health UK, 2024), with men less likely to seek help for their mental health (Mind, 2020; Proto and Quintana-Domeque, 2021). In the context of poor mental health outcomes it is also worth bearing in mind the alarming statistics that an estimated 90% of people sleeping rough in England are male, aged over 26 years old and from the UK (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, 2024) and that proportionally men make up to 96% of the total prison population (HM Prison and Probation Service, 2024).
As with many mental health statistics, it is difficult to know if mental health figures represent what is truly happening because these numbers can only tell us about mental health problems that have been reported, diagnosed, or admitted to. Many cases likely go unreported and undiagnosed (Mental Health Foundation, 2021). We do know that, in 2023, the ONS reported a decline in all measures of personal wellbeing and life satisfaction (ONS, 2023).
Men are less likely to talk about or seek treatment for mental health issues than women, in part because of societal expectations and established gender roles (Mental Health Foundation, 2021). Gender stereotypes about women, such as the expectation that they should act or appear a specific way, are known to have negative effects on them. However, it's crucial to recognise that expectations and preconceptions can harm men as well (Green, 2023). Some studies indicate that males who are unable to express their feelings honestly may also be less able to identify signs of mental health issues in themselves and less inclined to seek help (Robertson et al, 2014; Chandler, 2022). The misconception that ‘boys don't cry’ is another unfair circumstance that men face. The capacity of this gender to express pain, grief, and suffering has always been hampered by masculinity (Rice et al, 2021).
Men may also be more likely to use potentially harmful coping methods such as drugs or alcohol and less likely to talk to family or friends about their mental health (Chandler, 2022). However, research suggests men will accept the help that meets their preferences and is easy to access, meaningful and engaging. For example, ‘Andy's Man Club’ or ‘Men's Sheds’ both nationally provide community spaces for men to connect and talk (Mental Health Foundation, 2021).
Why a podcast?
Podcasts offer an additional means of enhancing mental health literacy in regions with limited access to services (Caoilte et al, 2023). Podcasts are being increasingly used in mental health contexts to guide on enhancing wellness, psychoeducation, guided meditations, and translations of research findings (Carrotte et al, 2023).
A series of informal discussions started during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 between a group of male nurse academics. This involved sharing personal reasons for becoming nurses, as well as attempts to define masculinity and positive mental health. From these initial discussions The Man Hug podcast was born in early 2023 and it became a medium to capture the essence of these discussions to encourage men to talk. The podcast has three clear aims, to:
As hosts of the podcast we are determined to demonstrate that poor mental health affects all men across class, demographic, and cultural lines, and that, by talking, our guests demonstrate positive male role models – and that it's good to talk. To date, the podcast has addressed various themes such as addiction, grief, loneliness, suicide, neurodiversity and memories.
An evaluation of the podcast was conducted after 6 months with an online survey to a selection of listeners (mostly student nurses). The feedback was humbling and demonstrated the impact it is having as an educational tool and that it has helped people to actively seek help and support or given them the skills to signpost to services mentioned in the podcast via the Hub of Hope app, which is promoted on every episode. The Man Hug has to date had guests from sports, media, music and politics and featured various people who have set up or work within a mental health-based charity, organisation or service to highlight these areas of support.