Mens Mental Health

By Kevin Noonan

Each November, Movember shines a spotlight on three key areas in Men’s Health: Prostate Cancer, Testicular Cancer and Mental Health. 

As a man who works in mental health, I’ve seen how easy it is for us, men, to downplay what is going on for us mentally. A lot of us have been raised on “Get on with it”, “Boys don’t cry” or “Lads are meant to be strong”. But the truth is, everyone struggles sometimes. Every one of us. 

Why the focus on men

• Men are more likely to find it difficult to talk about emotional challenges and mental-health issues with friends and family. 

  
  

• Men are less likely to go to counselling or seek therapeutic support.

  
  

• Men are far more likely to die by suicide - around 8 in 10 people who die by suicide in Ireland are men (CSO, 2024). 

These aren’t just numbers on a screen. They are brothers, fathers, friends and colleagues. Men who might have seemed fine on the surface but who were fighting silent battles behind closed doors. 

What this means in practice

We don’t talk enough about how heavy it can feel to keep things bottled up. Those old ideas that a man should be tough, should be able to handle things themselves, shouldn’t show weakness or even cry, can make it even more difficult for someone to reach out to get the support they need. 

There’s still a stigma surrounding conversations about mental health, but it’s time we change that. It’s time to check in with ourselves and the men in our lives. Let’s make space for these conversations and move away from the “ah grand, sure you know yourself” statements.

How can SmaointeCBT help?  

At SmaointeCBT, we see how men are affected by the pressures of daily life: work stress, relationship strain, financial worries, identity, and expectations. Mental health isn’t just an individual thing; it can be shaped by the world around us.

Here’s what we focus on:

 • Helping men open up about what’s really going on beneath the surface. 

• Offering practical tools to manage anxiety, low mood, shame, and stress. 

• Supporting workplaces and communities to create spaces where men feel safe to talk.

You don’t have to be in crisis to reach out. Therapy isn’t about being broken. It’s about giving yourself the time and space to work things through.

Men’s health isn’t just about physical check-ups. It’s also about emotional well-being, connection, and the ability to say, “I’m not okay right now.”

So this Movember, let’s make it normal for men to talk, to lean on each other, and to ask for help when they need it.

If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t wait. Talk to someone today.You can reach out to your GP, a counsellor, or contact:

• Samaritans (Freephone 116 123)

• Pieta (Freephone 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444)

• Text About It (Text HELLO to 50808)

At SmaointeCBT, we’re here to listen and support men’s mental health - not just this month, but all year round.