Mental Health Awareness Week: Male Celebs Open Up In Powerful Video To Show Emotions Don't Emasculate
Emotions Don't Emasculate: Male Celebrities Open Up On Their Mental Health Struggles
Natasha Hinde— The Huffington Post UK
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Suicide is the cause of death for a quarter of males aged 20-34.
This shocking statistic, combined with the tragic death of Lil Chris in March, has once again brought the subject of men'smental health to the forefront of conversation.
To coincide with Mental Health Awareness week,The Self-Esteem Team (SET) - a trio of women in the media, who tour the UK's schools and colleges delivering classes on mental health and body image - are urging men to open up about their feelings.
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SET has created a video starring celebrities Stephen Fry, Clarke Carlisle, Professor Green, YouTube star Charlie McDonnell, TV presenter Ortis Deley, Deaf Havana frontman James Veck-Gilodi, and comedian Ian Royce, who reveal their daily battles with mental health.
"Everyday I battle to be a somebody and a something," says one of the stars.
While another adds: "My main fear has always been my mental state coming between me and a loved one, that they may not understand that I cannot control when a moment of panic arrives. And to them it seems I'm being selfish or miserable for no apparent reason.
"I guess my deepest fear is ending up alone because of it."
The video hopes to stamp out stigma by showing that emotions don’t emasculate.
It's dedicated to James Mabbett, 24, a close friend of Nadia Mendoza from the Self-Esteem Team, who took his own life earlier this year.
Mabbett’s death, as well as those of Robin Williams and Lil Chris, inspired the team to create a campaign aimed specifically at men.
Nadia Mendoza, showbiz editor at Daily Star, says: “Mental health is not reserved for people frothing at the mouth with zombie eyes in straitjackets. Anyone with a body and brain has a mental health, just as we all have a physical health.
"On the surface, James always seemed so high on life. Yet a smile can mask a lot. And the ‘happiest’ one in the room could be the saddest. Open discussions on mental health – in the classroom, at home, with friends – play a vital role in destigmatising.
"Equally, talking about feelings doesn’t mean surrendering your privacy by spilling your secrets to random peers at school or work, sometimes it’s enough to say ‘I’m having a bad day’ to communicate if you’re struggling and it’s up to the rest of us to understand what that could mean.”
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The Facts About Depression Symptoms
Negative Feelings (01 of15)
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Do you have persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness that have lingered for at least two weeks and occur throughout the day, every day or nearly every day? Are these feelings interfering with school or work, or your relationships? This is a key symptom of clinical depression. We all have negative thoughts from time to time, and it’s natural to be sad when there is a serious event in our lives, like a death. The difference with clinical depression is that the feelings stick around and interfere with your ability to live your life day to day. (credit:Shuji Kobayashi via Getty Images)
Fatigue(02 of15)
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Many people with depression find it difficult to get out of bed — and we're not just talking about hitting the snooze button. For some, getting up seems nearly impossible. They may also find themselves spending unusual amounts of time in bed throughout the day, or having trouble with normal activities because of fatigue. (credit:digitalskillet via Getty Images)
Changes In Sleeping Patterns (03 of15)
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As tired as you may be, if you’re depressed you might also have trouble sleeping. Marked changes in sleeping patterns, like insomnia or increased time spent sleeping, is another symptom of clinical depression. (credit:Casarsa via Getty Images)
Changes In Appetite (04 of15)
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Some people either gain or lose weight when they have clinical depression because of their change in appetite. For some, this means an increase in appetite and possibly weight gain as a result. Others lose their appetite and struggle to eat much at all. In either case, a significant change is worth investigating. (credit:Sami Sarkis via Getty Images)
Loss Of Interest In Fun Activities (05 of15)
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We all have times when we feel a bit more introverted than usual, but when people have clinical depression, they can lose the sense of pleasure they used to get from their favourite activities or from engaging with others. This isolation can make it harder for friends and loved ones to see the other symptoms of depression a person may be exhibiting, which makes it more difficult to know when a person needs help. (credit:David Ryle via Getty Images)
Difficulty Concentrating (06 of15)
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It’s more often thought of as a symptom of ADHD, but an inability to concentrate or hold focus on one’s activities can be a sign of clinical depression. Of course, if someone with clinical depression is also having trouble sleeping, not eating well or has lost interest in regular activities, this symptom can be amplified. (credit:kieferpix via Getty Images)
Suicidal Thoughts (07 of15)
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This is the most serious symptom of depression, says Dr. Joe Taravella, a psychologist and the supervisor of Rusk’s Pediatric Psychology Service at NYU-Langone Medical Center in New York. “When you’re severely depressed, suicidal thoughts can become so prominent, you begin to make a plan for ending your life, as you feel there are no other options.” If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, seek help or tell a trusted person in your life and ask for help — call your doctor, call 911, or go to an emergency room. And never assume that a person who talks about suicide won’t do it. If someone tells you they are feeling suicidal or discusses plans to end their life, always take it seriously and get help. (credit:AlexRaths via Getty Images)
Chronic Irritability (08 of15)
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“Many people don’t realize that low levels of chronic irritability and anger can mask an underlying depression,” Taravella says, “which can be undiagnosed and untreated for years.” A study released last year found that more than half of men and women who were experiencing a major depressive episode reported irritability as a symptom. Constant irritability is also a symptom of depression seen in teenagers and children, one that could be written off as normal growing pains or teenage behaviour. (credit:Thomas Barwick via Getty Images)
Physical Pain(09 of15)
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Yes, depression can literally hurt. There is increasing recognition of the physical symptoms of depression, which include headaches, stomach pain, and back pain. One study found half of patients with depression from around the world reported unexplained physical symptoms. But because these physical symptoms are often vague or have no logical explanation, they can be missed as as symptom of depression. (credit:JGI/Jamie Grill via Getty Images)
Lack Of Daily Hygiene (10 of15)
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For people with severe depression, basic tasks of self care can seem too overwhelming to undertake, Taravella says. As well, personal hygiene may seem unimportant if you are feeling hopeless or worthless. If someone in your life is showing a marked decrease in personal hygiene, don’t assume they are simply lazy. (credit:Canonzoom via Getty Images)
Some people who show signs of depression engage in what Taravella refers to as “externalizing behaviours,” which include substance abuse and risk-taking activities. Men are more likely to do it, he says. These behaviours can be a sign of an underlying mental-health problem, particularly if they’re out of the ordinary for the individual. (credit:Daniel Grizelj via Getty Images)
If You Think You Have Symptoms Of Depression (13 of15)
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“If you recognize symptoms of depression, take action and immediately seek professional help,” Taravella advises. There are valuable resources out there, he says, including psychotherapy and antidepressants. Many people also find some relief with meditation and exercise, often in conjunction with other treatments. It can be difficult to navigate the process of finding the right help, especially if you are having trouble just getting out of bed. Try talking to a trusted friend or family member who can help you research options and even call a therapist for you. (credit:Paul Bradbury via Getty Images)
Once You Start Your Treatment(14 of15)
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It can take time for depression treatments to start making a difference, which is frustrating when you've taken the difficult step of admitting you need help. But while you work on medication and/or therapy, there are things you can do. Be as active as you can, Taravella says, and try to see friends. “Create small goals for yourself each week but don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself,” he suggests. While it can take time for depression symptoms to begin to lift, it may be worth seeking different treatment options if you are not seeing any improvement after two months. (credit:moodboard via Getty Images)
How To Help Someone With Depression (15 of15)
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“The best way to help someone who is depressed is to be a constant source of support for them,” Taravella says. This can sometimes be difficult, however, because people with depression tend to isolate themselves despite your efforts to stay in touch and/or get involved. You may also be able to help someone by making a doctor’s appointment for them. It’s a simple task to request an appointment, but for someone who is severely depressed it can seem incredibly daunting. (credit:PeopleImages.com via Getty Images)
Meanwhile fellow SET member, columnist and TV pundit, Natasha Devon, says: “The statistics on young people and self-esteem tend to focus on girls, because young women are more likely to stop themselves from partaking in activities because of low self-worth and therefore their struggles are more tangible.
"But if you think about it, that means lots of their male counterparts are just soldiering on, pretending everything’s okay, despite having low self-worth and that comes with its own unique set of challenges. It’s important we don’t just include men and boys in a tokenistic way when we discuss mental health and self-esteem.
"That’s why we want to give men an opportunity to discuss the things that worry them and difficulties they face. We’re simply providing a platform to enable them to do that.”
Throughout the week, The Self-Esteem Team will be encouraging conversations amongst men online using the hashtag #MENtalhealth.
Speaking to HuffPost UK Lifestyle, Stephen Buckley, Head of Information at Mind, reveals: “Men account for more than three quarters of suicides and yet research from Mind suggests that almost a third of men would be embarrassed about seeking help for a mental health problem.
"Less than a quarter of men would visit their GP if they felt down for more than two weeks, in comparison to a third of women.
“We are getting better at talking about mental health and when high profile people speak out about their own wellbeing it inspires others to do the same."
By engaging fans in the issues that surround mental health problems, celebrities are helping to "break down stigma" and "inspire people to get support when they need it".
"However, there is still a long way to go," adds Buckley.
"Mental Health Awareness week is the perfect opportunity to start those conversations – to talk to friends and family about mental health, about your own experiences, or just to ask those close to you how they’re doing.”
If you've been affected by the issues in this article, please call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90.