Men in England are three times more likely to die by suicide than women*. And three times less likely to access counselling with Listening Post.
Often due to stigma, social pressures or lack of information & resources, men are also far less likely to seek support for their mental health.
Throughout November, which is Men’s Mental Health Month, we will be dedicating our social media to raising awareness of men’s mental health needs, and encouraging more men to talk and seek support. Alongside, we will be raising funds towards more targeted provision and resources for men in and around Gloucestershire accessing our local counselling service.
We want to make sure more people like Leon and Jake know about us. And that they can access our service when they need it, how they need it, and for as long as they need it.
Leon’s story
“When my life was spiraling and hitting rock bottom, I stumbled across Listening Post and can hand on heartsay that without their amazing work, I wouldn’t be sat here today. My own private battles had led to trying to take my own life and I fully felt I would again. But with my counsellor, I slowly turned a corner and began rebuilding my life.
Listening Post’s efforts and help directly led to me starting the support group I now run in Dursley by inspiring me to try to help others.”
Jake’s story
It was a time in my life where I thought everything was going wrong. I was having thoughts of completely giving up. I referred myself to Listening Post, and was assessed and placed with a counsellor. When I met my counsellor, I was lost and broken.
But by the end of my time with my counsellor, I had strength, peace, and the desire to be a force for good in the world. I had a child, a job and money was tight, but that was okay, because I began to see the joy in life, a way forward. Nothing changed, but everything changed. I felt like I had control of my life for the first time. I cannot describe how profound that was for me, it cannot be summed up into a few sentences.
I have become a better father, brother, son and friend to the people I love. I have become at peace with all of me, I can now handle challenges, and most of all, I can have the compassion for myself when I need it.
I have gone back into education to train to be a counsellor myself, my son is thriving from the transformation of his father. Life has still thrown its challenges my way, that will continue to be a continuum, but I can handle these and know I am okay.
We are aiming to raise £5,000 this November towards our outreach and counselling for men in Gloucestershire.
To make a donation directly head to: https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/31158
*Source: stress.org.uk
