Men's Health Awareness Month

November is host to Men’s Health Awareness Month, a month that provides a platform for men to discuss their health, seek help and take assertive steps towards a healthier and happy life.

Men’s Health Awareness Month is often also referred to as Movember, annually men unite in growing moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of some of the most significant health issues suffered by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide. Movember is a leading charity, dedicated to changing the face of men’s health. Currently, one man dies every minute across the globe due to suicide, therefore the value of individuals participating in this annual activity is immeasurable.

Undeniably, men’s health is in crisis, on average, men are dying 4.5 years earlier than women, and the reasons behind this are largely preventable. In regard to mental health, approximately 1 in 8 men have a common mental health condition, such as, anxiety, depression, or stress, according to research conducted by the Mental Health Foundation. It comes as a great concern, that this research highlighted 40% of males as having never spoken to anyone about their mental health.

There is a heavy stigma associated with being a man, and what a ‘real man’ looks like. This often prevents men from speaking up about their mental health and seeking support. Men do not always hold the requisite emotional vocabulary required to understand or express their negative emotional experiences effectively, and this stigma aggravates this. It has also been recognised that men frequently experience higher levels of externalising disorders, such as, substance abuse and anti-social behaviour, in contrast with women who typically are likely to experience increased levels of internalising disorders, such as, depression and anxiety. These internalising and externalising disorders may be correlated with standard conceptions of masculinity and femininity.

The legal industry can be overwhelming for individuals, the stress, lengthy hours and other challenges of legal work can undoubtedly impact the mental health of both men and women. However, as we have previously noted, men do not tend to share the challenges they are experiencing. This is upsetting, since despite the augmented awareness and understanding of mental health in the legal industry, there still appears to be remarkable barriers to men seeking support.

In 2022, LawCare conducted a focus group study on male legal professionals regarding mental health. In summation of the research, it was raised that some male professionals are reluctant to seek support due to concerns over whether it would negatively impact career prospects. It was reported that some firms are inconsistent in their approaches, as individuals from the same firm reportedly have received exceedingly different responses when raising their concerns regarding their mental health. Another instance is of a senior lawyer who, after believing that the firm was supporting of ill mental health, reached out and found himself penalised and isolated, which lead to him leaving the firm.

Many of the men in the study reported potential contributors of poor mental health as overbearing work hours, added responsibilities (for example, children), taking on client’s worries, toxic working cultures, facetime culture and workplace bullying, amongst a host of other factors. Another constituent elicited was drinking culture, therefore for individuals using alcohol to mask their feelings and numb emotions, it can evidently become a downward spiral as alcohol is a renowned depressant.

So, what must be done moving forward? One of the most integral steps in reducing the horrifying statistics is redefining what ‘manliness is’ and suppressing the unbearable and unrealistic stigma men are objected to. It is always okay to show your emotions, to cry and to be vulnerable, it is not okay, however, to feel as though you need to ‘man up’, to feel like a burden or to feel alone. In the legal industry, sustainable barriers must be implemented so that lawyers cannot be contacted 24/7, individuals, and firms, must be respectful of each other’s barriers. It could be recommended that equal support be provided for both maternity and paternity leave, since this was an issue raised in the LawCare focus group that men often struggle to balance a full-time career and spending time with their children. Finally, support must be readily available and seeking it must be encouraged, which may require a redefinition of how we view seeking help. It is important that individuals know it is not a sign of weakness or laziness, but instead a sign of immense courage and strength.

If you are struggling, please know that you are not alone, and there is always someone there who wants to listen and help. There is no health without mental health, so as much as careers and oppressive workloads can hinder our personal lives, we cannot emphasise enough how crucial it is to prioritise our health, both mental and physical, and be kind to ourselves. If you are struggling and want to talk to someone separate from your personal or work situation, some helplines have been listed below.

LawCare emotional support helpline – 0800 279 6888

Samaritans – 116 123