Lads, it’s time to talk about mental health

SIR, I was shocked to read in The Kerryman that there were more suicides in Kerry than any other county in 2016. The majority are men, why is this? I believe women are the stronger sex. They form friendships better than men. They communicate better. They are able to discuss their emotions and feelings. They ventilate better. What do we do? We sometimes isolate ourselves. ‘Feelings and emotions’ make us feel vulnerable. It’s good to cry. It’s good to talk.

As men, we could talk all day – about sport, football, golf, etc – but will not discuss the torment we may be feeling inside. As men, we need to discuss. Talk. Ventilate. Feel sad. Admit we feel crap.

I believe good mental health is sitting down around a table with loved ones. Thrash it out. Ventilate.

As a society, we spend more time on Social Media – Facebook, Twitter and so on. It’s a false world. One good friend is better than 100 friends on Facebook. We all need the human contact, ‘ the chat’. So let’s talk.

Finally, the actor Jeremy Irons said these words at a suicide memorial in Waterville a few years ago: ‘I have always been taught it’s darkest before the dawn, and, when I get really low, there’s a little bird in me saying ‘it can only get better’. It’s that little bird we want to put in the ears of people thinking of ending their journey in life, to say ‘wait, it can get better’.

Lads – it’s time to talk.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Adams Oak Park Tralee