Signs, tips and advice on men’s mental health at Christmas
As the festive season approaches, a mental health campaigner is calling on men to prioritise their wellbeing and open up about their struggles.
Luke Ambler, co-founder of male suicide prevention charity, Andy’s Man Club, warns Christmas can be one of the toughest times of the year for many men.
He says men might struggle with their mental health in the lead-up to Christmas with the long, dark winter days and nights, possible financial struggles and the pressure to lead a perfect life.
They may use ‘negative coping strategies’ including drinking more alcohol, shutting themselves off from others and avoiding any type of conversation.
Luke, given an Outstanding Contribution Award by the University of Bradford in recognition of his work with Andy’s Man Club in 2024, said: “Coming up to Christmas we have the expectations of presents and the perfect imagery at Christmas.
“People feel the pressure to give that perfect perception of life. We need to have an appreciation that everything doesn’t have to be perfect, because it never is.”
Seen, heard and supported
Anyone struggling with their mental health before Christmas can be helped by supportive friends or family.
Luke said: “What a lot of guys need is just to know someone’s there. Not to fix a problem, just to say; ‘I’m here with you, should you need me’. I think sometimes that’s just enough.
“I just think any guy, or woman, just wants to feel seen, heard and supported. They are the three main pillars of what anyone wants when they are asking for help.
“It might be about someone’s sexuality, finances, or an addiction problem, and you might not completely understand it, but as long as you’re there for them, and they know that they are seen and heard, chances are they are going to feel supported as a byproduct of that.
“We’ve all got our own little battles going on. We’re all going to have our darker days; we’re all going to have our harder times.”
Luke Ambler, co-founder of Andy’s Man Club, has given advice on men’s mental health at Christmas. Images credit: University of Bradford
Advice for anyone on their mental health
Many aspects to people’s problems are uncontrollable, including their partner, or ex-partner’s emotions and behaviour, according to Luke, who had these tips for coping this Christmas.
• Take a breath: You can always control your breath. Gather your thoughts, and once you do that, and you start to slow down a little bit, the storm does calm down and then you can have a little bit of hope again, that it’s going to pass. Hope that tomorrow can be better than today.
• Making connections: Being around people, it’s so important to still have connections. Whether it be are your local five-a-side club or going out for a walk with your mates, or a running club. Any type of connection where you can still feel that with people is so important.
• Slow down: As the world starts to slow down towards Christmas, and people start to shut down for work, just slow down a little bit. Life is fast. It’s chaotic. You don’t want to let it fly past you, do you?
More on Andy’s Man Club
Named after Luke’s brother-in-law, Andy Roberts, who took his own life aged 23 in 2016, Andy’s Man Club, with the slogan ‘It’s Okay to Talk’ and co-founded by Andy’s mother Elaine, started with nine men attending its first support group meeting in Halifax in 2016. It has since become a national men’s mental health movement, with more than 4,500 men meeting at more than 190 support groups across the UK every Monday, apart from bank holidays, at 7pm.