Man Up This June

When it comes to health, men are often encouraged to ‘man up’ and get over their illness. In reality, this can be a bad idea as something serious could be overlooked for the sake of pride.

Men as a whole are more reluctant to see their GP than women, and as a result conditions are reported less often and are then left to the last minute to be treated. This is why Men’s Health Week takes place each June, encouraging men to speak up and seek help if they are experiencing pain or difficulty.

This year the awareness week focuses on stress, encouraging men to seek help and advice if this is something that affects them. In general, around 1 in 4 people will suffer from a mental health issue this year. Stress is often the biggest factor in mental illness, so it’s important to speak about stress before it builds up and gets out of hand.

According to a study by Opinion Leader for the Men’s Health Forum, men are particularly unlikely to seek medical help for things like anxiety (19% would seek help) or feeling low (just 15% would consult a medical professional), in contrast with physical symptoms of illness, where the majority of men would seek medical guidance. In reality, over three quarters of people who kill themselves are men, with more men going missing (73%) and sleeping rough (87%) than women. In addition, men tend to have lower access to the social support of friends or relatives when it comes to mental health and wellbeing. This all has a negative impact on coping with stress and mental illness, which could be addressed by visiting a professional.

These sobering statistics don’t have to continue, as there’s plenty of access to help and support from your GP and health service. This June we are encouraging any men with worries of anxiety or stress not to ignore these feelings, but instead to man up and seek help from a medical professional. At Glasgow Medical Rooms, we offer support and advice not only from a GP but from our counsellor and psychologist. With specialist services available to you, we can help you overcome the illnesses that aren’t always immediately visible.

For more information on our services such as our well-man screening, counselling or psychology, please get in touch.