November is Men’s Health Month. Read these inspiring stories from two men who have accessed our therapy services.
*Dave’s story
“I couldn’t be more grateful to Gaddum, and particularly to Claire Pickering, who supported me during the most difficult time in my life. My 5 year old daughter earned her angel wings after fighting brain cancer for almost 26 months.
I had regular sessions with Claire who always listened to my most intimate feelings, emotions and thoughts and guided me to overcome the difficult journey I had started soon after my daughter’s departure.
I now feel more confident, and excited about the future. I have learnt how to manage my grief and how to deal with it when it comes unexpectedly.
I have learnt a couple of strategies to get on with my life and having always my daughter on my heart and mind. That’s it; that is the most valuable lesson I have learnt: My daughter will be always with me, doesn’t matter what.
I also gained the reassurance my daughter will never be forgotten.”
*John’s story
“As a typical bloke I really didn’t know what to think when we first started speak. The issues we had as a family with a poorly 11 year old lad going through a bone marrow transplant and now on a lung transplant list. I just felt I should be able to deal with all this on my own – I didn’t need to speak to anyone as “I AM A MAN” I felt I should be bullet proof for my family. How wrong I was!
Being able to open up to some one that isn’t directly involved in my family and slowly getting me to open up fully to what my son is going though! I feel now I am able to speak/deal and come to terms with all the possibility’s my son may go through.
At first there was no way I could talk about the “D” word! Yes death! Don’t get me wrong this is the last possible outcome I want for the lad who is everything to me but there is a chance he may not make it. But do you know what….because of the conversation with you I will have made every effort for my lad to have his best life!
Opening up as a male isn’t easy, but this is something that has helped me massively coming to terms with everything. Whilst having these chats with Claire my mum passed away – Just another issue in my life that I had no control over and I honestly think because of my conversations with you I have been more mentally prepared to cope and come to terms with my loss.
My experience with Claire, I could talk all day about and this letter could go on and on! As with all the chats we have a seed is planted and make me think more and more on how I do things day in day out – How I plan our life as a family, how I look at what’s happened and happening.
I wish I could say more to express my gratitude! But all I can say is two small words “Thank You”.
According to the Mental Health Foundation:
- Three times as many men as women die by suicide
- Men aged 40 to 49 have the highest suicide rates in the UK
- Men report lower levels of life satisfaction than women, according to the Government’s national well-being survey
- Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women: only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men
*Names have been changed. To get in touch with our therapy team call 0161 834 6069 or email therapy@gaddum.org.uk.