Men's mental health crisis is mountain we must conquer

AS AN adventurer, I've faced my share of storms. From Himalayan peaks to jungles where the slightest misstep can mean disaster. But there's a different kind of storm brewing, one that's claiming far too many lives right here at home: the crisis in men's mental health.

- By Bear Grylls

The latest figures from across the UK paint a sobering picture. We're losing our brothers, fathers, sons and mates at an alarming rate and yet it's barely spoken about. A staggering 75% of all suicides in the UK are by men.

Suicide is also the biggest killer of men under 50.

Just think about that for a moment; if this was a physical illness we'd be searching tirelessly for a cure. This is a national tragedy unfolding in plain sight.

Men aged 45 to 49 are currently at the highest risk but the truth is this crisis doesn't discriminate by age alone. We're seeing young men, particularly those aged 16 to 29, reporting high levels of anxiety and even new fathers are not immune, with many experiencing postnatal depression.

The pressures are immense, whether it's the weight of "being a man", financial strain, relationship breakdowns or the chronic loneliness that, according to Mind, affects nearly 8% of adults.

So why is this happening? For too long we've been conditioned to believe that showing vulnerability is a weakness.