Man shares experiences to encourage others to talk

November is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, which highlights the importance of conversation and support.

Harry Brown, 29, from Jersey, had never experienced mental health difficulties before 2022, when his long-term relationship ended and he was made redundant in quick succession.

The sudden change left him overwhelmed and unsure about what came next.

"It all sort of happened so quickly, everything flipped on its head... The uncertainty of having no clue what was around the corner," he said.

Even as the stress built, seeking support did not feel like an obvious step.

"I kind of just had the impression I needed to crack on and start fresh, just fix everything first and then kind of worry about it later," he said.

"I wasn't aware of the support channels that were available… I was never aware of what was available to me."

Mr Brown said he now recognised this reaction, pushing feelings aside and getting on with things, was something many men were still conditioned to do.

He said: "I think definitely there's this stigma... that you kind of just have to grit your teeth and get on with it.

"The first few times to open up is tough. But, once you do it, the relief that you feel… it's like a massive weight off your shoulders."

He said rebuilding routine helped him find stability again.

'Weight off your shoulders'

"I'm quite a routine person. If I don't have a routine I stress out," he said. "So I think having that routine back in place definitely helped sort of get back on track."

He said he now had a strong support system - his partner, old friends, new friends and family, but said the key was taking the first step to talk.

"Even just regular check-ins with your mates or with your family or with your partner… even if it is, you know, having a coffee with a mate, or just going for a walk… It just feels like a massive weight off your shoulders," he said.

"A problem shared is a problem halved"

As part of Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, his partner is hosting a men-only book club meet-up on 18 November - not as a therapy session, but as a relaxed space to chat, listen, or simply be around others.

"You don't have to be a massive reader. Just come along, have a coffee, bring a book," he said.

"We're really going to try and encourage people to just have a chat and that's all it is.

"That's all it takes."