UKIP has become the first political party to back our #MenGetTalking campaign that launched on Wednesday.
With suicide rates among men at a 30-year-high, we think it’s time us lads did something about it.
Jordan Gaskell, UKIP’s mental health spokesman told Politicalite last night: “I am in full support of the Men Get Talking campaign.”
“Men’s mental health is often swept under the carpet in society with outdated stereotypes which make many men feel they are unable to show weak emotion and must portray strong, breadwinner characteristics or their masculinity will be nullified.”
“Male suicides are 3 times higher then female suicides.”
“Men are less likely to see help with only 36% of NHS therapy referrals being men.”
“1 in 8 men will suffer from some form of mental health problem.”
“Mens mental health is often left as a neglected trivial and must now be taken seriously as a priority matter.”
Media outlets have also backed the campaign with The Bolton News sharing our awareness video on Twitter.
Richard Duggan – the regional editor for Newsquest Lancashire told Politicalite: ”If we don’t talk about it we don’t fight the shame.”
MEN, GET TALKING!
Benny James, a social media mental health campaigner lost his older brother to suicide in September 2009.
In 2019 he called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to “up the Governments game” on tackling mental health arguing that more needed to be done to stop the “devastating effects” of Suicide that sends shockwaves across families and friends and often leads to further mental health issues.
“Men’s mental health is never really taken seriously, and the suicide rate for men is always high.” he said.
He’s backing our #MenGetTalking campaign after the issue was raised by UFC fighter “Paddy the Baddy” who revealed he lost a close friend last week to suicide.
He said he’d much rather ‘have a mate cry on my shoulder than go to his funeral next week.’
Paddy said: “I woke up on Friday morning at 4am to a message that one my friends back home had killed themselves.”
“This was five hours before my weigh-in.
“Check up on your friends from time to time. Make it normal to talk about your mental health rather than thinking it’s embarrassing as a man to express when you’re not feeling okay.”
“So Ricky lad, that’s for you. There’s a stigma in this world that men can’t talk.”
“Listen, if you’re a man and you’ve got weight on your shoulders and you think the only way you can solve it is by killing yourself, please speak to someone.”
“Speak to anyone. I know I would rather have my mate cry on my shoulder than go to his funeral next week. So please, let’s get rid of this stigma. Men start talking.”
ASK TWICE
THOSE statistics mentioned above don’t have to be so high. All we have to do is talk to our mates about our feelings if we feel low or check in on friends who may seem distant or not their usual selves.
It doesn’t mean becoming a “snowflake” – it’s quite the opposite. It means becoming a man, and being able to support another person through difficult times, so thousands of families do not have to endure the chilling effects of suicide.
All it takes is a double text asking if a friend is ok. Usually, the response will be a fake one. So ask again.
STRUGGLING TO COPE? TEXT ”SHOUT” TO 85258– It’s free.
