A Mental Health Pandemic: The rise in popularity of men’s mental health courses

Around two years ago, mental health charity, Mind, and the NHS both warned of a “second pandemic” following data insights revealing spikes in depression, anxiety, psychosis and eating disorder diagnoses. And they weren’t wrong. In the midst and the aftermath of the pandemic, we saw more enrolments than ever in our suite of mental health courses.

Now, it seems we could be in a third wave aftershock as statistics emerge surrounding men’s mental health, revealing the rippling effects of the pandemic amongst other pressures.

Sadly, the number of men experiencing suicidal thoughts has reached an all-time high, and three times as many men as women are dying by suicide. These statistics call for a greater mental health support system across the UK for those who are struggling.

The average worker spends one third of their life at work, so it’s a necessity that this support system is present and accessible in workplaces.

Not only that, but Priory Group found that the biggest cause of mental health issues in men’s lives is work itself, with 32% of men stating that this is the top cause of their mental health problems.

Upon hearing this, it may not come as a surprise that we’ve witnessed a surge in enrolments on our Level 2 course in Awareness of Men’s Mental Health Problems, with businesses positively recognising the importance of having a ‘men’s mental health champion’ in the workplace.

But the truth is, the figures still aren’t where they should be, nationwide.

Broadening your CPD and training to include courses focused on men’s mental health is a wise step to take to make sure you are equipped to address the unique mental health challenges faced by your employees. A high-quality provision of this topic is essential to ensure the correct support is given to your employees and to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of men’s mental health problems.

Our Level 2 qualification covers a wide range of mental health issues that can affect men, including depression, stress, anxiety and PTSD. Employees will gain an insight into the signs, symptoms and triggers of poor mental health as well as the differences in how mental health conditions present themselves differently in men and women.

Understanding budget and time constraints, we place accessibility, flexibility and diverse learning styles at the centre of what we offer. Employees can complete this around their work and family commitments through our online learning platform over approximately seven weeks. This qualification is also funded by the Adult Education Budget, which means your employees may be able to study for free. Find out more about this qualification and its funding eligibility criteria here.

It’s important to note that it’s not a case of upskilling your staff by placing them on a training course and then never discussing it again. There should be frequent meetings between mental health champions where they can identify trends within your organisation. Men’s mental health champions can spot where there might be a persistent addiction issue, for example, and can then put appropriate measures in place to support specific issues.

We urge you to make sure your workplace has the tools and knowledge needed to approach men’s mental health effectively. It’s everyone’s responsibility.