Many people struggle to cope at one point or another of their lives. However, many men feel they can’t speak out, and may not even recognise that they are struggling.

While everyone copes and reacts in their own way, being aware of some general signs to look out for can help you to support the young men in your life.

Primarily, a persistent change in usual behaviour for that individual may be an indication that they are not OK. This may relate to mood, energy levels, sleeping or eating patterns, or becoming isolated or withdrawn.

Some symptoms are more prevalent among men than women. These include irritability, sudden anger, increased loss of control, risk-taking and aggression. Men may also be more likely to use potentially harmful coping methods such as drugs or alcohol.

Some of these signs can be difficult to spot, especially because of reduced face-to-face contact during the coronavirus pandemic. This makes it even more important to regularly check in with the young men in your life, and to reach out to them if you are concerned about their wellbeing. See our post on ‘How to talk to young men about mental health’ for more advice on this.

Further advice and resources

Mental Health Foundation – ‘Men and mental health’ provides information on men’s mental health, and ways that men can support themselves and each other.

Samaritans – ‘How to support someone you’re worried about’ provides advice on the different ways that you can support someone you are concerned about.

If someone you know is in need of a confidential and non-judgemental space to talk about their mental wellbeing, see our blog post on Counselling Self-Referral for information on how they can access our Counselling Service.