How to Reduce Suicide in Men - Male Mental Health

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 146: How to Reduce Suicide in Men - Male Mental Health In this special episode, Dr. Marianne Trent explores the critical issue of male suicide, particularly in high-risk professions. Joined by three guests with unique insights, this episode provides practical, actionable advice on how we can better support men’s mental health. Guests include: • Lee Stuart, an ex-Marine now working in the building trade, who shares his personal journey and discusses why suicide rates are disproportionately high in the construction industry. • Sharon May, a researcher and farmer's wife, discusses her recent Master’s research on mental health challenges in the farming community, one of the most at-risk groups for suicide. • Charlie Bethel, CEO of Men’s Sheds UK, who explains how Men’s Sheds are creating life-saving communities and connections for men, offering them a safe space to talk, connect, and gain a sense of purpose. Whether you’re a mental health professional, aspiring psychologist, or simply someone looking to better understand men’s mental health, this episode is packed with valuable insights on how we can reduce suicide rates in these vital sectors. ________________________________________ Key Takeaways: • Why construction, farming, and other male-dominated industries see such high suicide rates. • The importance of community, purpose, and mental health support for men. • Practical steps to create positive mental health environments in these industries. ________________________________________ The Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction and Overview of Men’s Suicide Rates 01:08 - The Importance of Addressing High-Risk Groups 02:12 - Introducing Lee: Ex-Marine and Building Trade Worker 03:01 - The Mental Health Challenges in Transitioning Careers 05:04 - The Impact of Job Satisfaction on Mental Health 09:42 - Exploring Suicide Rates in the Construction Industry 11:29 - Lee's Reflections on Varied Work, Diet, and Mental Health 15:44 - The Importance of Recognising Practical Intelligence in Trades 18:33 - Encouraging Career Changes for Better Mental Health 21:03 - Introducing Sharon: Farmer's Wife and Mental Health Researcher 28:34 - Mental Health Challenges in the Farming Community 31:50 - Barriers to Help-Seeking for Farmers 36:15 - How to Support Farmers' Mental Health 39:28 - Introducing Charlie: CEO of Men's Sheds UK 40:40 - The Impact of Men's Sheds on Mental Health 43:23 - Practical Examples of Suicide Prevention in Men’s Sheds 46:37 - How to Join or Support a Men's Shed 📲 Connect with Lee: https://www.instagram.com/steelbeamlifter.mids.northwest/ 📲 Connect with Sharon: https://www.instagram.com/kingsclerecounsellingservice/ 📲 Connect with Charlie and Men's Sheds UK: https://www.instagram.com/ukmenssheds/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-bethel-9096bb37/ 🖥️ Check out my brand new short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/short-courses 🫶 To support me by donating to help cover my costs for the free resources I provide click here: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support 📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0 📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97 💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/membership-interested ✍️ Get your Supervision Shaping Tool now: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/supervision 📱Connect socially with Marianne and check out ways to work with her, including the Aspiring Psychologist Book, Clinical Psychologist book and The Aspiring Psychologist Membership on her Link tree: https://linktr.ee/drmariannetrent 💬 To join my free Facebook group and discuss your thoughts on this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringpsychologistcommunity Like, Comment, Subscribe & get involved: If you enjoy the podcast, please do subscribe and rate and review episodes. If you'd like to learn how to record and submit your own audio testimonial to be included in future shows head to: https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/podcast and click the blue request info button at the top of the page. Hashtags: #mensmentalhealth #farming #farmingmentalhealth #builders #menssheds #malementalhealth Mentioned in this episode: Sponsored by WriteUpp Tap to Pay This episode is sponsored by WriteUpp. Their Tap to Pay app turns your smartphone into a card reader, helping private practitioners take secure payments without additional hardware. Use code MARIANNE30 for a free 30-day trial and 30% off your first 6 months at this link: https://writeupp.com/?refid=142336