Breaking Down The Stigma Attached To Men's Mental Health

In this episode, Darren is joined by longtime friend Sam Reynolds, who by day is a chartered engineer but by night is doing something special in the North East with supporting men on their journey with mental health.

Sam is one half of the recently launched The Head Shed alongside The Head Shed Podcast seeking to improve the mental wellbeing of men across the North East and the UK now via the Podcast, Meetings and social events.

In a recent survey, the stats behind the condition are not good reading;

• 77% of men polled have suffered with common mental health symptons like anxient, stress or depression
• 40% of men have never spoken to anyone about their mental health
• 29% of those who haven't done so say they are "too embarrased" to speak about it, while 20% say there is a "negative stigma" on the issue
• The biggest cause of mental health issue in men's lives are work (32%), their finances (31%) and their health (23%)
• 40% of men polled said it would take thoughts of sucide or self-harm to compel them to seek professional help.
• Three times as many men as women die by suicide
• Men aged 40 to 49 have the highest suicide rates in the UK

*source - https://www.priorygroup.com/blog/40-of-men-wont-talk-to-anyone-about-their-mental-health

During the episode Darren and Sam talk about;

• Sam's journey from being in a succesful band, being played on Radio 1 by Fearne Cotton, touring the UK and supporting well known bands across Europe to suffering with depression and not understanding it.
• The counselling process and the ship analogy.
• The story behind the group, the drive and ambition
• Strategy going forward, why the podcast was launched and what the podcast will evolve into and the opportunity to connect and support people without them having to attend a face to face session.
• Sam's recommendations for other listening and books to read on the topic

Useful links:

• The Head Shed Podcast Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-head-shed-the-relatable-mental-health-podcast/id1664761391
• The Head Shed Podcast Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/show/24hbj3ajjsXjs5QaeInfsD
• The Head Shed Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheHeadShed
• The Head Shed Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/theheadshedgroup
• The Head Shed Instagram Page - https://www.instagram.com/theheadshedgroup