The mental health podcast that’s getting men talking

We know that talking is a simple but extraordinarily helpful way of beginning to handle some of the challenges that we experience in life, especially when it comes to mental health. In our digital world, especially over the course of the last year where we have been less able to speak in person, podcasts have been a lifeline for connecting with like minded individuals.

Tom Ford (who also happens to be a member of the Spabreaks.com team), has created a podcast designed to be a safe space for men to talk about mental health challenges from the seemingly prosaic to the profound.

He says:

“It’s a podcast about helping men to open up on everyday struggles, touching on all types of things in this podcast from putting on a brave face to that feeling of not wanting to get out of bed in the morning.

He invites men to come on the journey, noting:

“If I can help one man with his troubles and he can help another man then we’re winning!”

We spoke to him to find out more.

Have you had your own experiences with mental health challenges and how did you handle them?

I suffered from depression for about 18 years and still do to this day, I do group therapy at the moment, which is helping, but I find that opening up to friends is also massively helping as well.

What’s the podcast about?

The podcast is about men’s mental health and my own battle with depression.

What made you want to start it?

I started it because I really want to help other men open up and deal with their own problems. I’m hoping that by me being honest and open in the episodes that it will encourage other men to do the same.

What has the response been so far?

I have had a great response from both men and women who have reached out to talk. Men usually tell me about their daily struggles and women tend to ask what they can do to help and understand things from a man’s point of view - such as what triggers depression in men. 

What topics do you want to discuss going forward?

In the future I will be covering why men find it so hard to open up, how other men can help one other to open up and we also have some great chats lined up with other men to hear their perspective.

What do you think are the biggest challenges for men’s mental health today?

I find that for myself and other men I have spoken to about mental health, the feeling of embarrassment and being ashamed of suffering depression stops us opening up, so I want to try to break that trend.