The Covid-19 virus has changed our lives forever: the way we socialize, work, and live. Switching on the TV every morning, you are bombarded with the latest number of cases and deaths in Ireland, the populations most at risk of the virus, and the heroic stories of our social care workers, who continue to care for all of us on the frontline.
Since the start of the pandemic, reports of mental health issues in Ireland have risen significantly. Many of those affected have experienced psychological stress due to causes, such as job losses and social isolation.
While Covid-19 poses a greater threat to the elderly and vulnerable, we must also acknowledge that the unintended consequences of the restrictions are destroying the lives of many people. In particular, international studies demonstrate that self-isolation has a negative impact on the well-being of males.
What are the specific risks to men’s mental health during this pandemic?
1. Reluctance to opening-up
Anybody who knows men knows that they are not great speakers about their psychological problems. It’s mostly because of the fear that they will be deemed as “weak”. During the pandemic, fears of this nature are amplified. Men are struggling with their psychological well-being. Now is not the time to speak out, now is the time to be strong.
What to do: All men should speak out even during a pandemic, because speaking up is the strongest thing they can do.
2. Caring for others but not for yourself
During this pandemic, many men couldn’t take care of themselves, but others. This behavior shows their kindness, but it makes them vulnerable to developing or seeing pre-existing symptoms worsen.
What to do: practicing self-care during this period, allows men to help people more effectively and be more productive in many roles.
3. Accessing appropriate care has become harder
During the pandemic resources such as National Health Service have been busy curing people affected by Covid-19. This means that accessing mental healthcare treatments is limited to only those with the most acute symptoms. Consequently, men who may need medical help may decide it is not worth it, leading to a worsening of their symptoms.
What to do: it is very important to access care if you need to. Men with mental health conditions should be encouraged to stay focused on their goals for recovery and slowly work through them during this difficult time without being too hard on themself.
It is perfectly normal to feel stressed or anxious during this abnormal time. All men experiencing psychological difficulties during this period should reach out, be kind to themselves, and access support if they need it. Most importantly to those men with mental health problems keep believing in their ability to stay well, and continue moving towards recovery.
Our mental health is definitely taking a battering these past few months, but we want to keep this blog as a positive and motivational place for our gentlemen. We’re here for you and always available in the DMs or via email for you.
We are looking forward to opening our doors again in Stillorgan and Terenure.
Men’s Grooming Ireland Team.