MEN are notoriously reluctant to seek help with their health issues and Men’s Health Week, which starts today (June 13), aims to support them to pay more attention to health conditions and particularly stress.

The week is organised by the Men’s Health Forum which says in a recent survey, of those who responded, 34 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that they were constantly feeling stressed or under pressure. While nine per cent described themselves as severely or extremely stressed.

The forum goes on to say a recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report indicates 191,000 man a year in the UK suffer from depression or anxiety caused or made worse by work.

And if not acknowledged early and managed properly, stress can lead to

• more serious mental health problems

• issues at work

• self-medication with alcohol and drugs

• addictive behaviours

• poor diet

• physical health problems and, in extreme cases, premature death or suicide

It also reveals that men are particularly poor when it comes to seeking help with stress or mental health problems – during the first three quarters of last year, men made up just 36 per cent of those accessing psychological therapies.

A survey for Men’s Health Forum, conducted earlier this year, showed of 1,112 employed men 34 per cent said they would be embarrassed or ashamed to take time off work for a mental health concern such as anxiety or depression, while just 13 per cent said they were embarrassed or ashamed to take time off work for a physical injury.

Anxiety and low mood or depression was rated the last of 15 symptoms for which men would be prepared to take time off work.

Men’s Health Forum suggests a number of things to help men deal with stress. It says it is good to talk about it – talk about what is causing it, talk to mates, talk to family members and about how to beat it.

Other tips include doing exercise – running or any kind of exercise will help to release the hormones known as endorphins.

According to the NHS, research shows that physical activity can boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing the risk of stress, depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

“If exercise were a pill, it would be one of the most cost-effective drugs ever invented,” says Dr Nick Cavill, a health promotion consultant.

It's medically proven that people who do regular physical activity have:

• up to a 30 per cent lower risk of depression

• up to a 30 per cent lower risk of dementia

Other activities that can help are singing, dancing, laughing, music, painting, writing, volunteering, helping a mate, learning something new, meditating and getting a good night’s sleep.

But the one thing that helps more than anything is talking about it.

To support the week, the Men’s Health Forum also has made available:

• A range of free downloadable materials that are being used by employers, charities and public health bodies all over the country to put on their own activities - https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mens-health-week-2016-downloads

• A light-hearted guide on How to Survive Euro 2016 https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/euro2016

• On Wednesday June 15 the Men's Health Forum will be formally launching its Beat Stress Service - a free confidential and anonymous webchat service for men at beatstress.uk.

• Beat Stress, Feel Better - a short, easy-to-read publication pulling together tried and tested methods for beating stress - available at: https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/beat-stress-feel-better

• In conjunction with Movember and Leeds Beckett, a guide to help professionals design more effective services – How to make mental health services work for men via https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/best-practice-mental-health-promotion

• A summary of the most important facts, and research at https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/key-data-mental-health