Why has there traditionally been a stigma about men and therapy?

Why does BetterTalk have a page focussed on men? Because of men's reluctance to seek the help they need. It is a simple fact that men are less likely to seek help than women. Only a third of NHS referrals are for men. Yet consider suicide rates alone: 75% of suicides are men (most commonly in the 45-49 age range). 

Even in the UK therapeutic community, only 16% of therapists are men. Half of British males say they'd feel ashamed or embarrassed to discuss their mental health with their employer.

We have chosen to create this page to stress the support we can offer.

Talking to a professional isn't the same as sharing problems with family or friends. A trained therapist will help you feel at ease, and listen without expectation or judgement. At BetterTalk, we aim to move past problems, and focus instead on your hopes and potential. You can talk to a male or female therapist, as you feel most comfortable.

It may not be easy to talk about how you feel; but whether its relationships, low self-esteem, anger control, addiction, sexual dysfunction, or any other psychological issue, BetterTalk counsellors will make it as easy as we possibly can. We can probably help!

Men are just as much emotional humans as women -- though they often don't realise it, and our culture has taught men to bottle up their emotions as a supposed sign of strength. This is unhealthy, and can lead to anger and other troubling, counter-productive behaviour. Men can also experience "performance-related" thoughts around sex, leading to performance anxiety and psychological "ED" (erectile dysfunction) -- a problem far more common than most people realise. Another problem is porn addiction. Psychotherapy can help men to work successfully with all these issues.

Finding an affordable online therapist may be important for you. Financial issues are a major source of anxiety, which may result in you feeling hopeless, inadequate, or angry. Good therapy will counter those feelings, and may make you feel more focused and better able to handle financial matters -- it can therefore be a highly practical choice. 

At BetterTalk, we aim to offer not only excellent, but genuinely cheap online therapy, with big discounts for those who are unwaged or on health benefits. Tell us if you are struggling with finances, and we will be flexible where we can.

We aren't only there to help in a crisis. BetterTalk's low cost counselling can support you in many ways, including greater self-awareness, more calm, less anger, and healthier relationships -- as well as support to grow your career. 

If you feel in an acute crisis, there are many sources of free, instant support. This page of the Mind charity website contains almost a dozen specialist helplines, starting with the Samaritans but including others offering specialist help:  Mental health helplines - Mind . All of these aim to offer informed, compassionate support. Don't suffer in silence, reach out for help!

See:  Men's mental health - Mental Health UK