Men’s Mental Health: 3 Things You Can Do Today

Let’s not waffle on about how you should be prioritising your mental health because you probably already know that. The thing is, it’s a lot more difficult than people make it out to be. When you realise you’re struggling and are aware of the fact that you could do with a helping hand, the hardest part is knowing what to do next. You also might think to yourself, ‘I don’t have the time to worry about this!’ Work, school and social commitments are obviously important and it’s normal to have the desire to prioritise these over your mental health. However, when you don’t address your mental health, the rest of these pillars could eventually collapse. 

So, what’s the solution? Here you’ll find 3 realistic and simple ways you can begin the journey of taking care of your mental health. Before you read, let me remind you that everything will be okay and this is a great first step to living a happy and healthy life. 

Make a Booking  

Grab your phone, contact your GP and book an appointment. Eventually, this booking will lead you to an amazing therapist that can help you unpack all the things you’ve been thinking about. Typically, the best (and cheapest) way to speak with a mental health professional is by getting a mental health care plan from your GP. Medicare will cover most of the therapy appointments for you, so just because your budget is tight, doesn't mean therapy should be at the bottom of your to-do list.  

When you visit your GP, explain that you’re looking to speak with someone about your mental health. From here, you can relax knowing that you’ve taken the first step to getting your mental health back on track.  

Stay Active and Socialise 

Now that you’ve booked an appointment, unfortunately, you’ll be doing some waiting. This can feel extremely frustrating, especially when you might feel better tomorrow and think ‘I might as well cancel my appointment, I’m feeling better!’ Keep the appointment and keep yourself occupied. While you wait, it’s a great idea to speak with friends in the meantime and try your best to participate in your healthy habits. If you’re a gym goer, continue to stay active and exercise when you can. Socialising, even though it might be small interactions at the gym, can actually make a huge difference.  

Exercising and saying hi to people might not be high on your to-do list but try to get your body moving. The concept of exercise being good for you is probably drilled into your brain, but it is true. The positive effects are tremendous and although it might take some serious effort to get you up and about, once you do, you’ll feel great about it. 

Speak to Your Mates 

The times of bottling things up and keeping things to yourself are over. Speaking to your friends about heavy feelings and frustrating situations is entirely normal and I guarantee that if you open up to your friends, they’ll open up back. During these times in your life, leaning on your loved ones is extremely important. No one can push through life on their own, at some point or another we all need a helping hand. 

Doing these 3 things today will set you up for a positive outcome. Mental health is not a once of battle, your emotions fluctuate and so will your life. However, implementing these things can help prevent breaking points and having those little things we call an existential crisis. There’s nothing silly about taking care of your mental health, in fact, it’s probably the smartest decision you’ll make all year.