Did you know that three quarters of all suicides in this country are by men?

• Three times as many men as women die by suicide
• Men in their forties have the highest suicide rates with suicide being the largest cause of death for men under 50.
• Men report lower levels of life satisfaction than women, according to the Government’s national well being survey
• Men are less likely to access support than women: only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men
• Higher rates of suicide are found in minority communities, including gay men, war veterans, men from ethnic backgrounds and those with low incomes.
• Men are far more likely than women to go missing, sleep rough, become dependent on alcohol or use drugs frequently.

Why don’t men talk about their mental health?

Although much has changed in our society with mental health being spoken about more widely than ever before, there are still barriers that stop men speaking out or seeking help for their mental health.

Some research suggests that men who can’t speak openly about their emotions may be less able to recognise symptoms of mental health problems in themselves, and will therefore be less likely to reach out for support.

Have you heard of Men’s Sheds?

Men’s Sheds are community spaces for men to connect, converse and create. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together. They idea is that you connect with other people and most importantly spend less time alone and have fun.

• There are 572 Open Men’s Sheds in the UK
• There are 135 Sheds in development
• An estimated 13,728 families are benefiting directly from Men’s Sheds

We have many Men’s Sheds in Kent & Medway. To find the one nearest to you click here