Real People, Real Stories aims to get men talking

Samaritans Scotland has launched a new campaign, aimed directly at men in Scotland.
It's good to talk...Steven knows how important it is to talk and shared his story to help other men who may be struggling right now, across Scotland.It's good to talk...Steven knows how important it is to talk and shared his story to help other men who may be struggling right now, across Scotland.
It's good to talk...Steven knows how important it is to talk and shared his story to help other men who may be struggling right now, across Scotland.

Real People, Real Stories runs until September 27 and aims to reach men aged 18 years and over who are struggling to cope.

The move follows a survey conducted by the charity on how lockdown measures have affected Scottish men.

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Almost 2000 men, aged 20 to 59, across the UK took part in the survey – including nearly 200 in Scotland.

For too long, men have been told to man up; now they are being asked to talk.
(Pic: Manuel Alvarez, Pixabay)For too long, men have been told to man up; now they are being asked to talk.
(Pic: Manuel Alvarez, Pixabay)
For too long, men have been told to man up; now they are being asked to talk. (Pic: Manuel Alvarez, Pixabay)

The aim was to find out how the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions have affected their mental health and support networks.

Some 42 per cent of Scottish men questioned felt the restrictions had a negative impact on their mental health, with loneliness and/or isolation, anxiety, financial worries and separation from loved ones among their concerns.

Two in five also admitted they had experienced loneliness and isolation.

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Almost half of men in Scotland (42 per cent) said that talking to others helped with concerns and worries they had during lockdown, showing the importance of seeking help.

So the Real People, Real Stories campaign, which is supported by the rail industry, is well timed.

Men who have found life tough, experienced depression or suicidal thoughts have written words of support.

Their stories are being featured in films and shared across social media, radio, buses and TV.

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Among them is Steven Fegan (36), a dad of five from Ayrshire, who became a Samaritans volunteer after calling the charity following an attempt to take his life.

There wasn’t one single factor but a combination of things that led Steven to reach a crisis point, including a relationship breakdown, challenges with his physical health and losing his best friend to suicide.

He said: “When I called Samaritans I wasn’t sure what to expect or if talking on the phone would help. I felt hopeless and scared that I could harm myself.

“When someone answered I wasn’t sure what to say but the volunteer didn’t rush me to speak. He stayed on the line and slowly I started to relax.

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“Speaking about what I was feeling helped me to process things; I started to see that I didn’t want to take my own life. I wanted to change the way I was living.

“Knowing that someone took the time to listen to me, without judgement, helped show me that I was important and that it was okay to ask for help.”

Steven later fundraised for Samaritans and become a support volunteer with his local branch, raising awareness of the importance of mental health through community talks.

He believes the message that it is okay to ask for help has become even more important during the coronavirus pandemic as people face additional pressures and may feel disconnected from their usual support networks.

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Steven added: “I think for men in particular it can be difficult to say that we’re finding things difficult. We see so many messages from early on to ‘man up’ and not to show weakness.

“But I know from my own experience that sometimes the strongest, bravest thing you can do is to ask for help when you are struggling.

“For me, that experience of talking and really being listened to was a turning point; I really believe that call not only saved my life but was a first step towards building the life I wanted to live.”

Over half of the Scottish men (54 per cent) surveyed said they were worried or anxious as restrictions continued to ease and were concerned about the future.

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Rachel Cackett, Samaritans Scotland executive director, said: “These figures are a sign of the strain the pandemic has placed on mental health and well-being.

“It’s a stark reminder of why we must work to make sure that anyone who is struggling feels able to ask for help.

“At Samaritans, we know that less well-off, middle-aged men have remained the highest risk group for suicide in the UK for decades.

“The impact of the pandemic and restrictions put in place to contain the virus risk exacerbating the sense of disconnection that many men face.

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“Through our Real People, Real Stories campaign, we’re sharing messages of hope from men who have overcome struggles.

“Now, more than ever, we want people to know that we’re here to listen.”

Middle-aged men most at risk

Suicide is a complex issue resulting from a wide range of psychological, social, economic and cultural risk factors which interact and increase an individual’s level of risk.

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In the UK, suicide rates for middle-aged men, aged from 40 to 59, have fluctuated over the last couple of decades. However, this group has consistently faced an elevated suicide rate compared to others and over the past decade men in their 40s have regularly faced the highest suicide rates of any age or gender group.

Following a period of steady or declining rates over almost 30 years, the suicide rate for middle-aged men rose following the recession in the late 2000s.

While rates started to reduce from 2014 to 2017, they have remained higher than any pre-recession year since the early 1990s and there are recent indications that they may be rising once again.

Suicide is not equal; men in the lowest social class, living in the most deprived areas, are up to ten times more at risk of suicide than those in the highest social class, living in the most affluent areas.

Every six seconds, Samaritans responds to a call for help.

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Thanks to the public’s kind donations and more than 20,000 volunteers, the charity is always there – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – for anyone struggling to cope.

Anyone can contact Samaritans free, any time from any phone on 116 123 – even a mobile without credit. The number won’t show up on your phone bill. Or you can email [email protected] or visit www.samaritans.org.

To support the charity’s work, visit www.samaritans.org/scotland/support-us.

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