Suicide is a key mental health issue which disproportionately affects men. Three times as many men as women die by suicide.1 Suicide is the single leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK.

Men are less likely than women to talk about their mental health. Research from BUPA found that only around a quarter of men (24 per cent) who have struggled with mental health say they would talk to their friends about their struggles. Furthermore, less than half of men would seek medical advice for their mental health struggles, owing to the stigma surrounding it.2

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

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The reasons why men choose to stay silent about their mental health issues are complex, but can include:

- Societal expectations

- Poor emotional understanding

- A reluctance to burden others

- Familial or cultural pressures

- Misconceptions such as the belief that speaking up indicates weakness, or that this can exacerbate problems3 https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=15143