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Mental health is a topic guys often avoid talking about. There’s a stigma around that phrase. But if you think about it, we all have mental health, just like we all have physical health. Both are areas of our lives that if we ignore them—if we don’t take care of them—bad things happen.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Paul McGregor about why it’s important for men, in particular, to start speaking up about their feelings and learn how to deal with things in a healthier way.
That’s a huge issue with mental health, especially amongst men…maybe we do feel ashamed of how we’re feeling or we feel like if we tell someone how we’re feeling, they might label us as weak.”
Paul McGregor
Paul is best known as a successful entrepreneur, the founder of the popular site, MensFashionMagazine.com, and a short course lecturer at the London College of Fashion. But in recent years, Paul has also become an author, speaker and advocate for suicide prevention and mental health. His new book, Man Up, Man Down: Standing Up to Suicide tells the story of his own recovery and journey after his father suddenly committed suicide when Paul was just nineteen.
Paul and I discuss why depression can hide underneath busy-ness and ambition, how expectations around “being a real man” make asking for help more difficult, why simply being surrounded by great friends isn’t enough, and much more.
We have a very blurred definition of what it actually takes to be a man these days.”
Episode Highlights
- How Paul’s father unexpectedly took his own life
- The generational differences around how men “should” be
- Some men can’t be emotional—there’s no one-size fits all or correct way to express your feelings
- Why chasing money, success and material items can keep you from confronting real issues
- How Paul’s trip to “Ann the Witch” created a breakthrough for dealing with his own pain
- Why opening up and sharing your issues can help the people around you
Resources Mentioned
- Man Up, Man Down: Standing Up to Suicide
- Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsch
- Menfluential Conference (formerly StyleCon)
- James Clear: Mastering Your Habits
