Three quarters of men won’t open up to friends about their mental health

Going through a mental health problem is hard enough, without having to face it alone. But new research has found three quarters of men aren’t willing to open up to friends about their mental health. And sadly, one of the main reasons for this is for fear of being a burden to their friends (42%).

The new study by growing mental health movement, Time to Change, uncovered that despite two thirds (64%) of men classing themselves as good communications, nearly half (44%) of men have had less than two heart to hears with a male friend in the last year.

But it may not be for lack of wanting to talk, rather not knowing what to look out for… Two fifths (39%) feel they would miss the signs that their friend needs to open up.

Serious topics like mental health (37%), sex life (43%) and money (45%) remain hard topics to broach with even their closest of companions. 

Lack of quality time is also a factor in male friendships, with work (47%), family commitments (38%) and being too busy (27%) taking up most of their time.

Aston spoke to Dominic Arnall, head of programme management at time to change and Jon Salmon, mental health campaigner to discuss the research in further detail and they also spoke about the “Ask Twice” campaign